The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how district leaders of two school systems in the USA describe an effective principal. Membership categorisation analysis revealed that district leaders believed an effective principal had four major categories of characteristics: (1) documented characteristics (having a track record and being a good manager), (2) instructional skills (instructional leadership and data leadership), (3) interpersonal skills (team player and community leader) and (4) perceptual characteristics (being a perfect fit for school and passionate leader). Based on the findings, a graphical model of portraying an "effective principal" from the point of view of district leaders is constructed. Implications for policy, research, practice and leader preparation are offered.