cbailey's blog

The Nature of Leadership: Traits of Effective School Leaders

Mrs. Pauline Reid

As educators, we have read books and examined research findings on the traits of effective school leaders; however, an effective school leader understands the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is not a vegetable, but a fruit; and wisdom is knowing not to include it in a fruit salad. It is therefore this writer’s objective to proffer some very practical, practicable and current realities based largely on experiential qualifications. Invariably we take up the position of school leader and we possess the requisite knowledge; but wisdom is knowing to lead in your own setting, and to construct new knowledge from your experiences. So the persons who have a wealth of experience can help to steer other leaders away from likely professional pitfalls.

Transformational Leadership: Leading From the Core

Dr. Taneisha Ingleton

We all want to see things change. We all want to be part of something meaningful and we all want to be fulfilled in our jobs. Nobody gets up and goes to work with the intention of messing things up. Our behaviours and dispositions are often screaming one thing, ‘the need to feel valued, respected and appreciated for what we do’. How then can these seemingly simple needs be met in an organization? Who has the time or the tenacity to ensure that each worker is being valued, effective behaviours are lauded and ineffective performance is respectfully communicated and strategies for improvement employed? Seriously, whose job is it to be checking organizational temperatures, monitoring and evaluating, visioning, strategizing, anticipating and planning for change?  Isn’t it much easier to just go to work and focus on our little desks and leave? The answer to that is a resounding no. Every member of the organization has a role to play in the ethos of the workplace and the professional well-being of our colleagues. However, it takes a certain kind of leadership to set the pace and shape the culture of the organization for each member to see themselves in the big picture.