Are You Leading for Approval or Purpose?

A Summer Reflection for School Leaders Who Want to Lead With Purpose

Summer gives us a rare gift: a quiet pause for reflection.

It’s in that quiet that an important question often rises to the surface—one we don’t always want to answer, but need to:

Am I leading for approval… or from purpose?

Approval-driven leadership doesn’t wear a name tag, but it’s easy to spot once you start paying attention.

It shows up when we:

• Say yes to avoid disappointing others

• Avoid hard conversations because we want to be liked

• Try to keep the peace at the cost of our priorities

• Perform rather than lead

It’s leadership that reacts to pressure rather than responds with intention.

And here’s the hard truth:
You can be well-liked and completely lost in your leadership.
You can be praised, promoted, and completely out of alignment.

What Purpose-Driven Leadership Looks Like

Purpose doesn’t always please people. But it does create a lasting impact.

When you lead from purpose, you:

• Say yes to what aligns—and no to what distracts

• Have clear priorities, not just full calendars

• Make decisions rooted in mission, not approval

• Sleep better because your soul isn’t in a tug-of-war

Purpose-driven leaders don’t need everyone to agree.
They need to be clear on what matters most—and brave enough to act on it.

This week, take a walk through your building. Let it be silent. Let it speak to you.

Ask yourself:

“If someone walked into this school today, what would they feel?”
“Am I leading toward that feeling on purpose… or am I managing reactions, keeping people happy, and trying to avoid the hard stuff?”

Approval might give you a moment of peace.
But purpose builds a legacy.

Approval says: Don’t rock the boat.
Purpose says: Steer it toward where you’re called to go.

Approval says: Keep them happy.
Purpose says: Lead them well.

So as you rest, plan, and prepare for what’s ahead, remember:
You weren’t called to be liked by everyone.
You were called to lead.

And when you lead with purpose, the right people will follow—not because you made them comfortable, but because you made it clear where you’re going.

So, how do you do this? 

1. Anchor Everything to Your Mission

Start with the why.
Your school’s mission, vision, and core values should be more than wall art—they should show up in how you lead, communicate, and make decisions.

Ask yourself: “Does this decision reflect who we say we are?”

When your actions align with your mission, your direction becomes clear—even when it’s uncomfortable.

2. Say the Same Things… Often

Repetition builds trust.
Clarity doesn’t come from a single email or a staff meeting—it comes from consistently communicating the same priorities, values, and goals over time.

Try this: Pick 2–3 phrases or values that represent where you’re going this year. Use them in meetings, memos, and morning announcements. Let them become part of the culture.

What you repeat becomes what people remember.

3. Create a Roadmap, Not Just a Calendar

It’s one thing to plan events. It’s another to plan on purpose.
Use your summer to map out not just what’s happening—but why it’s happening.

Build your Year at a Glance around themes, goals, and intentional checkpoints.
This helps your team see the bigger picture—not just tasks and deadlines.

4. Own the Hard Decisions

People may not always agree with your choices, but if you explain the why and stay true to your values, they will respect your consistency.

Purpose-driven leaders don’t dodge conflict—they lead through it with grace and clarity.

Be kind. Be firm. Be rooted in the mission.

5. Show Them Who You Are Becoming

Leadership isn’t just about what you do—it’s about who you are.
When you lead with authenticity and transparency, people lean in. They trust the journey because they trust you.

Let your team see your growth, your learning, and your heart.

Your character is your most powerful form of communication.