How to Survive the Politics of School Administration

School superintendents meet situations that range from those that require quick thinking to those that need thoughtful reflection and long-range planning. But almost every challenge requires some degree of political thinking and behavior. The authors have witnessed many school leaders get into sticky predicaments as a result of trying to maneuver through the politics surrounding the business of education. In this article, the authors propose five strategies for dealing with the politics school administrators encounter. Their advice is to "A"nticipate, "F"orm Alliances, "L"isten, "A"ctivate Networks, and "C"ommunicate. If school administrators practice these behaviors, they can be proactive and better prepared to handle political issues. (Contains 1 figure.)