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The Leadership Toolbox
Leading with Integrity: Lessons from a Principal’s Desk
During my time as a school principal, I had long admired a colleague—an experienced principal with a charismatic personality and an outstanding reputation in our district. He was the kind of leader who seemed to command respect effortlessly. Colleagues and central office personnel alike spoke highly of him. So, when he announced he was leaving for another job, I assumed the transition would be smooth and the legacy he left behind would be one of positive impact.
However, when his predecessor stepped into his office to settle in, she found something unexpected. His desk was buried under piles of student referrals—cases that had been brought to his attention but never acted upon. Issues that demanded justice, intervention, and care had been left unattended. The charismatic image I had admired was, in truth, a façade that masked a lack of action on matters that deeply affected both students and teachers.
This moment rattled me. How could someone so well-respected fail to serve those depending on him the most? I realized leadership isn’t about charm or public praise; it’s about doing the hard things—addressing hard problems and issues, standing for justice, and putting the needs of others before one’s image.
That experience has never left me. It shaped how I lead, write, and edit today. In the publishing industry, just like in education, it’s easy to be swept up in appearances—bestsellers, accolades, social media fame. Yet, authentic leadership means confronting uncomfortable truths in our stories and our communities. It means advocating for justice and love, even when it doesn’t place us in the spotlight.
As a Christian, I hold closely to Micah 6:8, which reminds us—
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (NIV).
This verse anchors my purpose. Whether editing a manuscript that tackles challenging topics or mentoring a new writer facing industry challenges, I commit to leading with justice, mercy, and humility. It’s not always easy, and it often requires putting others first. But I’ve seen how those choices lift others and create lasting impact.
For leaders and writers alike, the call is clear: do not shy away from hard conversations or inconvenient truths. Lead with integrity, even when it means going against the grain. Choose love and justice over popularity. Speak and write with purpose—because in doing so, you are ensuring that others are better off, even if you remain unseen.
This lesson from the principal’s desk taught me that leadership is ultimately about service—serving the truth, serving others, and serving God’s higher calling. May we all embrace that calling in our unique roles.
Author, Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes
Author, speaker, and editor Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed.D., is a freelance writer/content editor, and her writing has been published in Guideposts. She also writes for Killer Nashville, The Write Conversation, The Christian Pen, The Editor’s Freelance Association, and Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Blog. Katherine hosts the podcast Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality and is the cohost of the Word Weaver International live podcast Open Mic. She has authored a Christian Bible study for women and is currently working on the sequels of her first general market thriller novel, “A Fifth of the Story.” Her publisher is Endgame Press, and she lives in Florida with three of her four daughters, her grandson, her husband, and her fur babies.
