This research was aimed know: 1) the planning of principal’s leadership in improving work ethic of Islamic religious education teachers in SMK Muhammadiyah Wonosari Gunungkidul; 2) the implementation of principal’s leadership in improving work ethic of Islamic religious education teachers in SMK Muhammadiyah Wonosari Gunungkidul. This is a qualitative research with the school principal and Islamic religious education teachers in SMK Muhammadiyah Wonosari Gunung Kidul as the subjects of the research. This research was conducted in SMK Muhammadiyah Wonosari Gunung Kidul that is located in Alun-alun Barat Street No.11 Wonosari Gunungkidul. The data of the research were collected through interview and documentation, and the obtained data were then analyzed using descriptive qualitative. The findings of the research show that: 1) the planning and implementation has been good and in line with what is said by the principal to the teachers of SMK Muhammadiyah Wonosari Gunungkidul. 2) the principal applies managerial leadership to implement and run activities during the school activities and use leadership style that prioritizes task implementation, and pay great attention to the task implementation of his/her subordinates, so the hope for improving work ethic is achieved.