Competency 4.01 Define Leadership
What is leadership?
After reading and sharing all of the information about leadership and interviewing some effective leaders about their views, I have come to the following conclusion:
Leadership is the ability to move an organization (school) forward by involving staff, students, parents, and community at all levels in a collective effort to promote a shared vision, develop positive mission, and improve performance. Leaders are not only risk takers, but because they lead by example. They generate a community of support thereby creating a positive culture in which to work. They are able to define core values that all people are willing to follow. They are encouraging, supportive and therefore approachable. A lthough it is impossible to agreee with everyone all of the time, leaders value the input and opinions of those with whom they work and appreciate their efforts. A person may be assigned to an administrative role but they need to have vision and passion in order for others to view them as a leader.
Traditional vs. current views of leadership
"Until we value "EQ" as much as IQ at every level in our educational systems, leaders who can encourage the collaboration and adult learning required for deep and lasting change in schools will be in short supply. " http://www.edweek.org/ew/1998/32wagner.h17
This quote in Tony Wagner's article really stood out for me when thinking about the difference between traditional and current leadership. Traditionally leadership has been a top down model. In the past, leaders feared those who were visionaries or those who were unwilling to do the managerial tasks of "doing the right thing". This traditional model of leadership emphasized authority and a leader made judgements based on certain standards or accountablitiy. This traditional leader was the sole planner and resource allocater—there was no choice or involvement by the followers. Information was disseminated often in a lecture based forum. The problem in this type of top down system is that it is change did not come easy. People did not have a stake in the change process because they did not have a personal involvement.
In the current view, a leader’s role has changed from disseminator of information to facilitator. Rather than focusing on an individual planner, today’s leaders engage their teams in the decision making process. They model the school’s vision, and pursue common goals. Rather than dictating objectives, today’s leaders work to produce a democratic workplace and unite people in a common cause. In the Education Week article Tony Wagner suggested that there are four essential characteristics of effective leaders that have been able to implement change (1) They frame problems in ways that encourage adult learning and dialogue; (2) they ask questions rather than offer answers; (3) they encourage risk-takers; and (4) they model new behaviors. People are WILLING to work for today’s leaders because today’s leaders are willing to work WITH their people. Leaders can't lead unless they have folks willing to follow!!! Change in this type of system is sure to follow.
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