Leadership Reflection 2

This course has made me think a lot about what an effective leader is. Having worked under several supervisors over the past seven years, I have had the opportunity to see first-hand what works and what doesn’t. However, the readings and discussions in this course have expanded my beliefs.

At the beginning of this course, I did not realize that there were so many leadership theories. It reminds me of the whole language/phonics reading wars debate. I really believe that no one style is right or wrong. I think that an effective leader needs to be flexible, open to change and to new ideas. This will allow a leader to look at theory and use the best technique in a situation. Not every theory will be effective for every person or situation and it is important for a leader to understand that.

Another important concept that I have learned in this course is that even though there are many theories on leadership, there are also many common elements amongst the theories. When reading Fullan, Covey, Deming, Sergiovanni and others, I have noticed that some of the common ideas are having high expectations for yourself and others, believing in others, seeking to understand and grow, and giving staff members opportunities to make decisions. Seeing these elements in several theories shows how powerful they are.

Most importantly, this course has allowed me to reflect on my own experiences as a leader and as a person who has been led. I have been able to think about the leaders who inspired me and who I excelled working with. They were leaders who challenged me, but were very supportive. They were leaders who empowered me and made me feel that I was a part of something that was meaningful. As an aspiring leader it is important for me to include these characteristics in my leadership style.

There are many important characteristics that an educational leader should possess. First, a leader should be honest. Staff members will respect and commit to a leader who displays honesty. Second, a leader should have integrity. A leader should act on his beliefs and not just talk about them. Even when no one is watching, a leader with integrity will follow through his or her beliefs. Third, a leader should be consistent. When staff and students see that a leader is consistent, they know what to expect and are more willing to commit to a vision. Fourth, a leader needs to be motivated to learn more and to see that the school’s vision is met. Finally, it is important for a leader to be enthusiastic about teaching, learning and working with children. This enthusiasm will spread to the staff and the students and people will be excited to work and learn.