August
2008
Individual Reflection – Week 30
Since beginning this course my thoughts about leadership have completely changed. I initially began this program thinking I was going to become an educational leader that would go in and change everything. I thought that as a leader I would finally be able to make everyone do what they were supposed to do. Well after 3 weeks in this class my perceptions have completely changed. The perception I had was more of a dictator, not of a true leader. Gardner stated that “Leadership is the process of persuasion or example by which an individual (or leadership team) induces a group to pursue objectives held by the leader or shared by the leader and his or her followers.” This is the true “nature of leadership.” All of the theorists have stated that one can not lead alone. A person that comes in and tries to force their own agenda is destined to fail. This type of leader is missing the three qualities the Fullan text says are necessary. Those qualities are ethics, vision and belief in others. After 3 weeks of class I realize if I want to be a successful leader, I will need to create an environment that embodies these qualities.
The top characteristics I believe a successful principal must possess are:
Positive Attitude – The way a leader walks into a building sets the tone for the whole school. When the leader of the school is cheerful, happy and has a glass is half full mentality then so will the staff.
Willingness to Learn – A principal is the instructional leader of the school. They must always be on top of what’s happening. This can accomplish two things. A leader that stays current is able to implement new programs and initiatives. A principal that has a solid knowledge base shows they are up-to-date on current research. The second reason it is important for a principal to continuously learn is it sets an example to the staff. It shows them that no matter what level you reach there’s always something new to learn.
Integrity – A leader’s staff need to believe and trust in their leader. Fullan states “integrity is a fundamental consistency between one’s values, goals and actions. At the simplest level it means standing for something, having a significant commitment and exemplifying this commitment in your behavior.” Integrity is a crucial quality for a leader. A leader that doesn’t lead with integrity will never have success. They must mean what they say and say what they mean.
Faith – A school principal must have faith that everyone will do the job they were hired to do. They must have faith in the students’ ability to learn and they must have faith in their own abilities to lead.
Trust – This goes along with faith. Leaders not only need to have faith in their staff’s ability but they must trust them to do their jobs and not micro manage them to death.
