Introduction There are a number of different theories of leadership styles applied in education today. One contingency style of leadership, which has triggered debate amongst scholars, is the path-goal theory wherein its primary aim is to align methodology with circumstances. The application of this theory can lead to a number of improvements in the educational setting which include increased motivation, satisfaction, and capacity. Although this theory has been in existence for more than three decades; scholars argue that it has not been adequately researched. On the contrary, transformational leadership has been widely studied and proven to be effective. The application of this theory involves the leader 1) acting as the moral exemplar 2) building awareness and articulating the vision and 3) improving team capacity. The path-goal theory as well as the transformational leadership theory will be examined in depth in order to determine future implications for educational leaders.
Path-Goal and Transformational Leadership Theories “As the old saying goes, if the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” (Kaplan & Owings, 2012, pp. 145). This statement exemplifies the movement in educational leadership towards a more decentralized approach. Educational leaders have the immeasurable task of moving a school community towards achieving their vision for all students while motivating a school community. Exemplary leaders make
Achieving a school district’s mission and vision requires the commitment of its stakeholders. In order to involve them in the process, it is necessary for educational leaders to “motivate staff, parents, students, board and community members” (Educational Leadership Constituencies Council, 2002, p. 4). The transformational leadership theory emphasizes the importance of educational leaders acting as role-models in order to motivate and inspire the school community. This approach has the potential to involve all stakeholders, leading to increased student success (Bush, 2007). The Assistant Director of Special Education in Northwest ISD directly supervised the school district’s assessment staff. Her education, experience, and passion set an example for her subordinates, stimulating them to achieve more, leading to her promotion to Executive Director of Student Services.
Leadership goes beyond management, for some, leadership is instinctual and pours over into your personal life. This paper will discuss a leader I admire in my personal life, and analyze their leadership style. I will discuss how that leader has influenced my leadership style, as well as how things like environment and the economy affect my leadership approach.
The researchers reviewed related educational peer-reviewed literature, as it pertained to their study. They reviewed literature topics related to transformational leadership, best practices of educational leadership, strategies for improved school culture, and leadership styles and its impact on teacher morale. The researchers identify in their review of the literature characteristics of “true” transformational leadership to include a leader’s ability to “lead by example and have the ability to articulate goals of the organization which
When developing a template to assess which leadership styles are best suited to mitigate the effects of a decline in financial compensation, it is imperative to understand leadership theory. One of the first pioneers in leadership theory was Kurt Lewin. Kurt Lewin (1890–1947), was a prominent figure in psychology in his generation. He provided a solid foundation to the teachings of organizational development. In many circles he was known as the father of organizational development. He was best known for the development of field theory. Field theory was essential because it allowed business professionals to understand why undesirable behaviors was produced. It also taught how to bring about desirable behaviors. Field theory was developed in part because Lewin wanted to address organizational employee turnover.
In the book, The Moral Imperative of School Leadership, the author, Michael Fullan, discusses how a school ran with moral imperative will benefit everyone involved. Fullan summarizes how principals who share the leadership role and work collectively with others find success. He lays out the ways to change the context of your campus, defines some barriers of school leadership, and how to make a difference at the individual level and at the school level. He also discusses how to make a difference beyond your campus, expanding to regionally and society. Lastly he demonstrates how a new direction and new context require the individual and system to work together towards successfully changing the culture of your campus.
Similar to other leadership settings, educational leadership has a reliance on individual traits such as respect, trustworthiness, and fairness. Similarly, skills are essential since they determine the effectiveness of headship. Cooperation of staff members requires leaders to have strong awareness and understanding of their complex organizational environment. Concurrently, choice of management style is essential while focusing on maximum effectiveness of educational leadership. Lastly, as postulated, educational leadership is a great influencer towards students
Consider what leadership or management style speaks most to you. Discuss that particular style, explain why it fits you better than others. Alternatively, consider the leadership or management style fits you least. Explain what is least desirable with that style from your perspective.
According to the author in the introduction of the book, this work was basically intended to serve as a guide for developing moral leadership in schools geared toward superintendents, supervisors, principals, and any other persons at the upper levels of school management. The author's design was to provoke thoughts and raise questions in the minds of these people to help them analyze the leadership processes in their schools and help them make adjustments to the leadership process that will in the end reduce the need for "direct" leadership in favor of "moral" leadership. He
This influential work on “A Vivid Illustration of Leadership: Principals” Actions Propel Struggling Schools Turnaround work grew out of an urgent need to transform a high poverty high school. The author of this research discovered a framework between leadership, classroom teacher and learning. And so, this article discloses research that indicates the effectiveness of leadership and the kind of leadership needed to improve student achievement. Therefore, a leader must be a visionary and move with urgency to transform the learning environment. The purpose of this study was to explain the impact of effective leadership on school reform and to show how effective leadership methods are used to improve a high poverty high school. Because the leader
Major article headings, such as “Toward a Comprehensive Examination of School Leadership,” present the contents of the respective sections in a straightforward manner. For example, the content under the aforementioned heading features this directness by describing how the two avenues of thought should synthesize together for a more “comprehensive examination” of school leadership. While major headings provide a reader with a quick guide for identifying topics, minor headings, such as “Case Study Scenario: Principal A- Crystal Castle Academy,” break up the article information into separate and distinct sections. For example, the formerly addressed heading deals solely with the case-study. In addition to organizing information clearly using headings, the authors also present a Venn Diagram figure alongside the written text describing the intersecting avenues of psychosocial and organizational thought, and this graphic aid helps visual learners who may otherwise struggle to connect the two schools of thought. To emphasize their message of creating further research into interconnecting the realms of organization and psychosocial leadership studies, the authors bookend the article with a plea concerning the importance of their study and future
Marzano, McNulty and Waters propose five steps for a plan of effective school leadership. The first step is developing a leadership team with purpose. The definition used for a purposeful community is one with the collective efficacy and capability to develop and use assets to accomplish goals that mater to all community members through agreed-upon process (Marzano, et. al, 2005). The second step is distributing some responsibilities throughout the leadership team. The third step is to select the right work. The fourth step is to identify the order of magnitude implied by the selected work. The last step is to match the management style to the order of magnitude of the change initiative. The last step incorporates whether this is first or second order change.
What is leadership? Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines leadership as “the power or ability to lead other people”. Although this is simply put, it is also correct. But leadership is much more than the ability to lead. The ability is one piece of the puzzle. Other pieces to consider in leadership are education, attributes, and style, just to name a few. In this assignment, I will focus on leadership style. Specifically, I will discuss my style according to the assessment developed by The University of Kent in the UK.
ven John Wooden definition of success is refreshing and unique: Wooden states that success is a peace of mind which is a direct result of self- satisfaction knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable. This paper will seek to describe Wooden’s Pyramid of Success and how it fits the business environment in my work place. Also, this paper will identify similarities and differences within the Pyramid of Success by comparing it to leadership styles of the X Theory and the Y Theory. Throughout the Pyramid of Success John Wooden identifies different rationales for each aspect, we will provide our understanding of all his aspects. Lastly, we will attempt to create a new pyramid of success and develop a step by step strategy that allows members to use it and adapt to it.
Leadership is a concept most people feel informed enough to discuss, but that few are truly educated sufficiently to comment on. Therefore, it is instructive to consider the leadership styles of people with very different approaches both to better understand the diversity underlying leadership, as well as to appreciate the effective and less effective strategies that underlie different leadership outcomes. For that reason, this essay will consider the styles of two leaders who are less visible in this highly contentious presidential election season: Jill Stein (the Green Party nominee) and Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate. The leadership styles of both are very different, yet they are aligned in the sense that both are outsider candidates struggling to gain momentum from a disaffected electorate. This essay begins with a theoretical discussion of leadership more generally and then turns to the two leaders as case studies, comparing and contrasting them and drawing conclusions about how they both work within the same public sphere and for putatively similar ends (i.e., gaining votes).
To help make a strong case for the findings, the team utilized the theories and writings of other educational experts. In this part of the book, they briefly touch upon transformative leadership, total quality management, servant and situational leadership, and instructional leadership.