A shared goal can only be realized with agreement on a shared vision for the organization. Developing a shared vision requires a variety of leadership skills. The goal should be reached via consensus from all involved; failure to do so could result in the goal being undermined along the way. Leading a group requires a person with listening skills, allowing all to be p art of the development of the goal. To reach consensus, a goal’s strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities must be outlined in an honest and sincere discussion. There are several steps that need to be followed before a goal can be set and realized.
Needs Assessment
Before a goal can be set, a needs assessment should be given so a leader understands the needs of the parties involved.
Preparation
Before any change is attempted there needs to be some research done to determine what steps would best help to implement such change. It is the role of the leader to begin this process.
Getting Started
After researching the goal, it is essential to identiy a potential group members and invite them to p articipate in the process. Make sure to select enough people that any declines would not decimate the ranks, but not too many to have a group that is unmanageable. It is important to clearly explain the goal so that they have the chance to understand their obligations. It would be helpful to provide a general timeline for the overall process so that each person could make the most informed decision. before accepting the invitation to participate.
Helpful Skills
Once a leader has established his or her mission and vision, they need to play a variety of roles in order to move their organization in the right direction.
Roles Played by Educational Leaders |
Rationale |
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Trust is an important trait of a leader. A follower should feel that they can trust their leader, that they are valued and cared about. |
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Before any change is attempted there needs to be some research done to determine what steps would best help to implement such change. It is the role of the leader to begin this process. |
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A leader is not afraid to take risks and is able to take these risks because they have commanded the trust of the people around them. |
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Once decisions have been made as to activities to implement, the leader must take responsibility for appropriate staff training. |
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As the first line expert, the leader may be asked to act as a resource person for any changes. |
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When problems arise, the leader needs to put on his or her problem solving hat to come up with creative solutions that will benefit the organization. |
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In any organization there is bound to be areas in which parties disagree. It is the role of the leader to mediate these conflicts and come up with a solution that will benefit the organization as a whole. |
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In any organization, the leader needs to “sell” his or her vision—to the staff, to the students, to the parents & the community. |
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An effective leader chooses a good team—they hire good people that will share in their vision. They are responsible for and takes care of his people on his team |
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Leaders need to present materials in a way that will enable the educators involved to work easily with the program and not feel like they are going to be burdened with more work. |
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In education, any time a question arises with respect to curriculum the final say falls on the shoulders of the educational leaders. Therefore, the leaders must be not only familiar with, but an expert in the curriculum. |
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There are managerial tasks as well for which the educational leader must be responsible |
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One role that we can not overlook in the world of education is the role of child advocate—however, it is important to recognize that in order to maintain a strong team, an educational leader must also be an advocate for his or her followers. |
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In order for a leader to maintain credibility and integrity, he or she must maintain a level of development his or her self. He must stay current with educational trends in order to maintain a vision that is valid and helps to move the organization forward. |