Educational Leadership Simplified
A guide for existing and aspiring leaders
Bob Bates, Andy Bailey
- 192 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Educational Leadership Simplified
A guide for existing and aspiring leaders
Bob Bates, Andy Bailey
About This Book
Leading in education is a difficult job to do well. Political, financial and organisational pressures need to be managed smartly and difficult decisions need to be made. Written in Bob Bates? trademark style, this guide offers concise and clear support to help you lead andinspire in education. In collaboration with Andy Bailey, a former headteacher and school inspector with recent Ofsted lead inspection experience, Bob combines practical knowledge of leadership roles in educationwith robust theories underpinning leadership and management.
Covering a wide range ofkey areas including team-building, coaching, conflict, change and budget management, creating a supportive work environment andworking withvarious stakeholders - this is the go-to companion for anyone who is, or aspires to be, a senior leader in schools, colleges and other educational organisations.
Also from Bob Bates:
Learning Theories Simplified
A Quick Guide to Special Needs and Disabilities
Frequently asked questions
Information
1 Leadership and Management
- ā occupy an influential position in society and shape the teaching profession;
- ā are lead professionals and significant role models within the communities they serve;
- ā have values and ambitions that determine the achievements of schools;
- ā are accountable for the education of current and future generations of children;
- ā have a decisive impact on the quality of teaching and pupilsā achievements in the five nationsā classrooms;
- ā lead by example the professional conduct and practice of teachers in a way that minimises unnecessary teacher workload and leaves room for high quality continuous professional development for staff;
- ā secure a climate for the exemplary behaviour of pupils;
- ā set standards and expectations for high academic achievements within and beyond their own schools, recognising differences and respecting cultural diversity within contemporary Britain.
Leadership
Myth # 1: You donāt have to be intelligent to be a great leader
- Self-awareness: Leaders must be aware of the relationship between their thoughts, feelings and action. They must be able to recognise what thoughts about a situation sparked off which emotions and the impact these emotions can have on themselves and those around them.
- Managing emotions: Leaders must analyse what is behind these emotions and be able to deal with them in a positive manner.
- Empathy: Leaders must also be able to deal with the emotions of those around them in a positive manner. This requires them to be able to understand more about the nature of any concerns being expressed about their leadership.
- Social skills: Leaders need to develop quality relationships. This will have a positive effect on all involved. Knowing how and when to take the lead and when to follow is an essential social skill.
- Motivation: Leaders canāt always rely on external rewards to motivate others. They must support their staff to develop their own source of intrinsic motivators by encouraging them to appreciate what they can do and not to focus on the things they canāt do.
- ā Develop your self-awareness by keeping a record of any key incidents that took place connected with your leadership. A simple note of what happened, why it happened, what you did and what impact it had on you and those around you will suffice.
- ā Try to look at the situation from your followersā perspectives. Although you may disagree with them, recognising that they are entitled to their views and beliefs will make you more understanding towards them and the problems they may be facing.
- ā Listen carefully to what others in your organisation (not just your staff but also the learners and their parents) have to say and never be afraid to re-examine your own values in light of what they have to say.
- ā Always try to find a wināwin solution to any situation arising with you and your followers.
Case Study
Myth # 2: Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely
- Positional power: As a leader you hold a position of authority in the organisation. Identify the limits of that authority but act with confidence when you do exercise authority and expect staff to comply with your legitimate requests. Expect compliance and enforce it.
- Reward power: As a leader you control key resources within your organisation. Identify the range of rewards you can give staff and remember they need not be financial. Public recognition or a private appreciation of a job well done may mean more to a person than promotion or a pay rise. Always deliver on any promises that you make to reward someone.
- Coercive power: Some leaders will have reached the position they hold through force (physical or psychological). Identify the limits of your coercive power. Never use coercive power to bully people, but it is perfectly legitimate to deal forcibly with poor performance and apply a suitable sanction. Always carry through with any threats that you make to punish someone.
- Expert power: Most leaders gain recognition as a leader because of their experience and expertise in the job. Identify what, if any, expert power you have. If you have a professional qualification you will per force have a degree of expert power. Continuously update specialist knowledge in one or more areas of your discipline and use it in your organisation.
- Charismatic power: Some leaders gain recognition as a leader because of their charismatic hold over their followers. Remember that charisma is in the eye of the beholder. So think about how you appear to your staff. Act with confidence and integrity and they will think you have charisma.