I want to advance, but my principal plays favorites

Q: I work in a highly regarded school that’s full of ambitious people, including myself. I’d like to be an administrator. Even our principal wants to be promoted to director and oversee other principals. He makes self-serving decisions about which teachers to support. He caters to staff members he thinks might have useful connections in the district. Never mind that this has backfired. It has lowered staff morale, and the very people he thinks are likely to help him can’t stand him. But that’s his problem, not mine. My issue is that I was passed over for a position as interim assistant principal when the current AP took leave to care for her sick husband. I was the better choice. I’ve taken on major school projects, have earned the respect of my colleagues, and have great credentials. Instead, the principal chose someone with minimal experience. The only thing I can see that distinguishes this interim AP is his experience working in a support position with top dogs in central office. This is cynical, but I’m sure my principal feels he stands to benefit from giving this guy’s career a boost. When I asked him to help me understand his decision-making process, he was dismissive of my concerns. He told me my time will come and shut down the dialogue. So my question has a few parts. Is there a way to get ahead in this environment? How can I get my principal to reward my good work with increased responsibility? And how can I ultimately get a job as an administrator at another school if my supervisor won’t let me assume any leadership roles? 

A:  Right now, you lack a sense of agency. In hierarchical environments, it’s easy to forget that you can advance your career on your own. Yes, it’s nice when you get some wind in your sail, but why wait for the ideal circumstances? Don’t leave your fate in your principal’s hands. Let go of the need for his approval or his permission to move forward. He’s busy focusing on himself, and you can do the same. Don’t sit around waiting for something to happen; make something happen. In other words, “don’t dwell, excel.” Identify the things in your control. At the same time, accept what’s not in your control. For instance, you can’t prevent your principal from playing favorites. You can’t force him to reward your good work with increased responsibility. And while you can speak your mind, you can’t control how he will react. As I tell my students, there’s no fairness fairy.