What I Learned About Being a Leader on a Cruise Ship

So… so… so… good to see you again! 👋🏼

I just got back from a Spring Break cruise with the family - sunshine, soft-serve, shuffleboard, and all. But in between the deck chairs and buffet lines, something caught my eye.

The Staff Captain.

Not just some guy with stripes and a walkie-talkie - the second in command of the entire ship, responsible for every guest-facing crew member. He wasn’t tucked away in some command center or behind closed doors.

He was everywhere.

Greeting guests. Checking in on the kitchen staff. Sweeping through the pool deck. Giving quick nods of encouragement to entertainers. He knew the names. He asked questions. He gave direction. He led by showing up.

And it hit me: This is what school leadership should look like.

The Research: Presence Isn’t a Perk - It’s a Power Move

We don’t need a research study to tell us that visibility matters (although they exist).

Gallup tells us that teams who feel their leader is present and accessible are twice as likely to be engaged. Other studies show that leader visibility builds psychological safety, increases trust, and helps head off small problems before they become big ones.

But this isn’t about lurking in classrooms or micromanaging. It’s about being shoulder-to-shoulder with people doing the work - not to inspect, but to support.

When leaders are visible, they become real. Approachable. Human.

And when you’re human, people talk to you. When they talk to you, they tell you the truth. And when you know the truth, you can actually lead.

What This Looks Like In Action

Back on the ship, the Staff Captain didn’t need to make speeches or hand out memos. His actions said it all.

I’m here. I see you. We’re in this together.

Translate that to school: You don’t need a grand gesture - just consistent, intentional presence.

Maybe that looks like:

🔥 Swinging by the cafeteria to chat with the team before the lunch rush.
🔥 Standing at arrival with a smile and a high five.
🔥 Jumping in to help a sub who’s struggling.
🔥 Sitting with a kid in crisis - not to “handle” it, but to understand it.

You don’t need to be everywhere all at once. But you do need to be in the places that matter - before they become places of frustration or fire drills.

Leadership Moves You Can Make This Week

Schedule Your Walk
Block 30 minutes this week for an unannounced building walk. No clipboard. No checklist. Just conversation and curiosity.

Spot and Celebrate
Catch someone doing something awesome - then say it out loud. In front of others if you can. Recognition is leadership oxygen.

Plug Into One Problem
Ask a teacher or staff member: “What’s something that is driving you nuts right now?” Then, work on it. Not to solve everything - but to show you’re all in.

Final Thought: Stop Managing From the Captain’s Chair

That Staff Captain didn’t earn respect because of his title. He earned it because he showed up.

Not to supervise.
Not to check boxes.
But to lead.

Leadership isn’t about proximity to power - it’s about proximity to people.

So this week, take a page from the cruise ship playbook: walk the deck, show your face, and let your people know they’re not in it alone.

📩 What’s one space you plan to show up in this week? Hit reply - I’d love to hear.

On A Recent Episode of The Principal School Podcast…

Why Every School Leader Needs to Listen to The Principal School Podcast: Real talk. Real leadership. No fluff.

If you’re a school leader navigating the chaos of education, The Principal School Podcast is your must-listen resource. Each week, we tackle the biggest challenges in education—leadership, culture, time management, student learning, and everything in between. Packed with actionable insights, real strategies, and a touch of humor, this is the podcast that helps you lead smarter, not harder.

🎧 Subscribe now!