As a school leader, you’re no stranger to a packed schedule. Your days are a blur of meetings, classroom visits, parent phone calls, and, of course, the constant stream of problem-solving. It's easy to get so caught up in putting out fires that you lose sight of the incredible work happening all around you.

But what if there was a way to shift your focus from what's wrong to what's right? What if you could create an environment where everyone—from teachers and staff to students and families—feels seen, valued, and appreciated?

The answer lies in one simple, powerful concept: gratitude. Building a culture of gratitude isn't just about saying "thank you." It's about fundamentally changing how you see and interact with your world. It costs nothing to give and takes so little time, yet the rewards are immeasurable. A grateful school is a happier school, and a happier school is a more productive and supportive one.

Our brains are naturally wired to focus on what needs to be fixed. It’s a survival mechanism, a leftover from our hunter-gatherer days. This can be a significant hurdle for leaders who are always in a reactive state.

The good news is, you can retrain your brain to seek out the positive. It starts with an internal shift, a conscious effort to notice and acknowledge the good. This isn't just a feel-good exercise; it's a strategic move that makes extending gratitude to others an instinctive, effortless process.

So, how do you get started? Building a culture of gratitude takes time and consistent effort, but you don't have to wait to begin. Here are some simple, actionable steps you can take to start the process today.

It Starts With You: Cultivate Personal Gratitude 

Before you can lead others in a culture of gratitude, you must first cultivate it within yourself. Think of it as putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others. A personal gratitude practice isn’t just for your own well-being (though it certainly helps); it establishes a deeply ingrained habit that will inevitably spill over into your interactions with your staff and students.

Start a Gratitude Journal

One of the most effective ways to retrain your brain is to keep a gratitude journal. Each day, take a few minutes to write down what you are genuinely thankful for. These can be big things—like a teacher's incredible lesson on history or a student's breakthrough in math—or small, personal things, like a sunny day or a quiet cup of coffee. The act of writing it down forces you to slow down and reflect, making your gratitude tangible and real.

In the fast-paced world of school administration, it’s easy to get swept up in the problems of the day. A gratitude journal helps you carve out a space for the good. This simple habit helps you internalize your gratitude, making it much easier to express it to others.

Carry a Notebook in Your Pocket

Sometimes, a moment of gratitude is fleeting. You might see a student helping a classmate in the hallway or a teacher staying late to mentor a new colleague, but by the time you get back to your office, the moment has passed and you're onto the next fire. A simple pocket-sized notebook is your secret weapon. Jotting down these small victories as they happen ensures you don't forget them.

This might sound silly, but it's incredibly effective. The physical act of writing down a positive observation anchors it in your memory. If a paper notebook isn't your style, use the Notes app on your phone or even text yourself. The goal is to create a running log of the wins, big and small, that happen throughout your day.

Lead the Way: Express Gratitude to Others

Once you have a personal practice in place, you’re ready to share that gratitude with your community. This is where you transform your internal practice into an external force for good.

Set a Daily Gratitude Goal

Accountability is a powerful motivator. A great way to ensure you're actively looking for and acknowledging the good is to set a daily goal for yourself. For example, grab a handful of sticky notes in the morning and place them on your desk. Make a promise to yourself that you won't leave for the day until every single sticky note has been given to someone.

This small ritual forces you to be intentional. As you walk through the school, you’ll be on the lookout for positive moments. Did a custodian go above and beyond to clean up a spill? Did a staff member offer a kind word to a struggling student? Leave them a sticky note that says "Thank you for your hard work!" or "I appreciate your kindness."

You can distribute them as you see something positive, or you can wait until the end of the day. The second option has a unique benefit: it allows you to end your day by reflecting on all the good things that happened. Sometimes, as administrators, we need that positive mental reset before heading home.

Involve Your Community

You can't be everywhere at once. A quick and easy way to learn about the good you might not see with your own eyes is to ask your staff directly. Send out a simple, quick survey and ask everyone to share a positive experience they have had in the school. Perhaps it was a great interaction with a parent, a moment of collaboration with a colleague, or a student's kind gesture.

You can then highlight these moments in your weekly newsletter, share them in an all-staff email, or even read them aloud at a faculty meeting. This simple act of sharing not only makes the person who submitted the story feel seen and heard, but it also creates a sense of shared purpose and pride. When people know that their good deeds are being noticed and celebrated, they are more likely to continue doing them.

Building a culture of gratitude isn't a one-and-done event; it's an ongoing journey. It’s a habit you build, a muscle you strengthen, and a commitment you make every single day. The more you practice gratitude, the more it will become a natural part of who you are and how you lead.

And in the end, that small investment of time and effort will pay off in a big way, creating a school community that is not only successful but also genuinely happy and connected.

Resources

Portions of this post were adapted from Hacking School Leadership

Video by author Erika Garcia-Niles provided by the author and used with permission