Lifeworld or systemsworld: what guides novice principals?

Purpose ‐ This paper aims to contribute to the literature on principal preparation by examining the experiences of novice principals and what their experiences mean for principal preparation in the USA. Design/methodology/approach ‐ The researchers employed qualitative methods to examine the experiences of four novice principals over a two-year period. Findings ‐ The findings suggest that the current climate of efficiency and accountability is contributing to the socialization of principals who focus on the technical aspects of administration over the of relational aspects leadership. Originality/value ‐ This study focuses on the link between preparation programs and the practice of novice principals, an area that has not been fully explored in the literature.