This paper examines the changing role of school leaders, in light of the current trend toward participative decision making. Executive Order 12871 mandates the formation of a partnership between unions and management, which will result in teachers playing an active role in decision making. Leaders, particularly leaders of Department of Defense schools, should be concerned with the erosion of their managerial prerogatives as delineated by contractual agreements. The paper discusses why administrators need to understand shared decision making and describes strategies for engaging teachers in the decision-making process without completely giving up authority. Options for moving toward interest-based bargaining include holding roundtable discussions; including teachers in decisions about noncontractual issues; and engaging in collaborative, rather than collective, bargaining. It is argued that school leaders will not lose ground if the decisions are related to improved conditions for students. Administrators ultimately must balance the need to manage with the need to share ownership. (LMI)