The authors emphasize the importance of school leadership and management, note parallels between outstanding managers in schools and in businesses, and maintain that 'common sense' dictates that teachers and students need support, reward and criticism. The three principals achieved a sense of security, emphasizing tough standards of behavior for faculty and students, and insisting on an attractive physical environment. All are showmen, visionaries, masterly users of symbols, and supersalesmen. They are obsessed with details, believing that the energy focused on a single factor makes it a credible indicator of schools' success. The authors remark that these principals' ability to 'manage by walking around' marks them as superb school leaders. The principals' success lies in the fact that they see students as emerging adults, treating them with dignity and respect. It is concluded that the essence of leadership is vision, energy, empathy, persistence, passion, attention to detail, and a 'picture of the goal.'