Chapter 1 provided some good reading. The most interesting section , for me, were the 8 basic competencies that are key to today's successful school leaders. Anytime someone can enumerate the things that will produce a good leader, I'm there!(former student). What do you think are important about the competencies?
I think management of self is always important because you have to know who you are and what you believe in before anyone can believe in you. I also like management of meaning because it is involving everyone that has a stake in your school community.
Managament of self I agree is the most important, but I also thing there are some other major ones. Follow-up is another one I really put stock in. Since administrators are so busy, it really does show support when they follow through on what they say they are going to do. It takes a lot of time to follow up on questions or concerns from parents or teachers, but administrators that actually do that show their commitment. Trust and responsibility are also biggies. I think, as a new administrator gaining the trust of the faculty will be the most dificult job. Managament of Responsibility is closely tied to Trust. As an administrator, if I can find an individual way to motivate faculty, I think that will grow the bond of trust quickly. As a new administrator I believe that Mangagement of Trust and or Responsibilty will be essential.
Management of meaning stuck out for me. Students, teachers, and parents are going to give more to a school they are proud of than to a school with little or no pride. Everyone wants to be needed in some way. A good leader should be able to show students, teachers, and parents that their participation in fundraisers, activities, programs, etc are needed to make a successful school. Once you are able to connect groups and the school together, you have created more "stakeholders" for your school, always a benefit.
Management of self ranks top for me as well. I feel that being true to who you are and what you believe in is crucial. If you start giving in to the outside world and make changes or do things you don't beieve in, then you will begin to lose respect from others and most importantly of yourself! I believe administrators have to be confidant without being arrogant. That is a key part of leading...being able to motivate people becasue you believe in something and at the same time being able to step back and give others a voice. Listening is so important because when teachers, parents or students feel that their problems, ideas or needs are valued, then they will be more open to hear what the administrator has to say. This, of course, leads into management of meaning. They are all important, but I think you have to start with yourself and most everything else will come together.
I found "management of responsibility" to be the most interesting. As a teacher, I am well aware of the value and power of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards in motivating students, but each has its drawbacks - one of which is creating a dependency on needing rewards. Motivating others by developing their sense of obligation and duty sounds so refreshing. As the author states, the focus is then taken off of following the leader and placed on "following commitments, promises, obligations,"...etc. This can then lead to others' self-management,which makes it a win-win situation!
I belive the manangement of trust to be a crucial component of effective leadership. When school leaders have to make the difficult decisions for the school community, it is imperative that people can trust their judgement and understand why they are doing things.
Although all 8 of the basic competencies are key to the success of a principal, our textbook is emphasizing the management of trust as the most important. "First emphasize trust, then vision. A trust-first approach is an important theme of this book." Explaining your decisions and gaining the trust of your staff as a principal makes it easier for parents and teachers to stand behind you when you are making unpopular decisions. A leader without the trust of followers cannot accomplish anything significant, since decisions will be second-guessed and undermined at each opportunity.
I believe that management of meaning is an extremly important competency. The connecting of students,parents and staff to the vision and usefulness of the school and what you are trying to accomplish is of the utmost importance.
9 comments:
Chapter 1 provided some good reading. The most interesting section , for me, were the 8 basic competencies that are key to today's successful school leaders. Anytime someone can enumerate the things that will produce a good leader, I'm there!(former student). What do you think are important about the competencies?
I think management of self is always important because you have to know who you are and what you believe in before anyone can believe in you. I also like management of meaning because it is involving everyone that has a stake in your school community.
Managament of self I agree is the most important, but I also thing there are some other major ones. Follow-up is another one I really put stock in. Since administrators are so busy, it really does show support when they follow through on what they say they are going to do. It takes a lot of time to follow up on questions or concerns from parents or teachers, but administrators that actually do that show their commitment.
Trust and responsibility are also biggies. I think, as a new administrator gaining the trust of the faculty will be the most dificult job. Managament of Responsibility is closely tied to Trust. As an administrator, if I can find an individual way to motivate faculty, I think that will grow the bond of trust quickly. As a new administrator I believe that Mangagement of Trust and or Responsibilty will be essential.
Management of meaning stuck out for me. Students, teachers, and parents are going to give more to a school they are proud of than to a school with little or no pride. Everyone wants to be needed in some way. A good leader should be able to show students, teachers, and parents that their participation in fundraisers, activities, programs, etc are needed to make a successful school. Once you are able to connect groups and the school together, you have created more "stakeholders" for your school, always a benefit.
Management of self ranks top for me as well. I feel that being true to who you are and what you believe in is crucial. If you start giving in to the outside world and make changes or do things you don't beieve in, then you will begin to lose respect from others and most importantly of yourself! I believe administrators have to be confidant without being arrogant.
That is a key part of leading...being able to motivate people becasue you believe in something and at the same time being able to step back and give others a voice. Listening is so important because when teachers, parents or students feel that their problems, ideas or needs are valued, then they will be more open to hear what the administrator has to say. This, of course, leads into management of meaning. They are all important, but I think you have to start with yourself and most everything else will come together.
I found "management of responsibility" to be the most interesting. As a teacher, I am well aware of the value and power of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards in motivating students, but each has its drawbacks - one of which is creating a dependency on needing rewards. Motivating others by developing their sense of obligation and duty sounds so refreshing. As the author states, the focus is then taken off of following the leader and placed on "following commitments, promises, obligations,"...etc. This can then lead to others' self-management,which makes it a win-win situation!
I belive the manangement of trust to be a crucial component of effective leadership. When school leaders have to make the difficult decisions for the school community, it is imperative that people can trust their judgement and understand why they are doing things.
Although all 8 of the basic competencies are key to the success of a principal, our textbook is emphasizing the management of trust as the most important. "First emphasize trust, then vision. A trust-first approach is an important theme of this book." Explaining your decisions and gaining the trust of your staff as a principal makes it easier for parents and teachers to stand behind you when you are making unpopular decisions. A leader without the trust of followers cannot accomplish anything significant, since decisions will be second-guessed and undermined at each opportunity.
I believe that management of meaning is an extremly important competency. The connecting of students,parents and staff to the vision and usefulness of the school and what you are trying to accomplish is of the utmost importance.
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