One of the most effective leaders I have worked with is my
current principal. He is always stopping in to talk with the students and
teachers and monitor their progress, discipline, and create a relationship with
the students. While his ever-presence was a bit unnerving at first (I was
worried that I would mess up in front of him) I have grown to understand that
his job as a leader of the school is to maintain consistency in education and
keep disciplinary issues at a minimum. By letting the students know he is
present within the classroom along with being present during class changed in
the halls is important as a disciplinary problem deterrent. I have learned to
use proximity effectively without seeming overbearing next to a student. He
promotes the use of technology through correspondence, e-mailing us links to
new digital tools and resources, and uses his cell phone and iPad openly
demonstrating the importance and accessibility of digital resources. My
principal is always open for teachers to ask him questions, provide his insight
into a problem, and also asks us for suggestions and makes us feel a part of
the bigger picture in the school. He leads by example, mentorship, and
companionship. I see him moving towards a more connected and speak-easy school where
every teacher’s opinion and teaching abilities are shared and enhanced through
collaboration. His style is very much “team-player” and “companion,” than it is
“sage-on-the-stage” and overbearing. My principal can be described as being
mostly in the consideration dimension of leadership, because of his concern for
the well-being of teacher and students while actively participating in their
education and safety.
Leadership Assessment 1:
I
scored a 63. I feel that one of my leadership skills is my ability to
understand and connect with other people. I consider this a leadership skill,
because leaders should be able to connect with other at a level that the
follower can understand that the leader cares for and is interested in the
well-being of the follower.
Leadership Assessment 2:
Assessing the Environment: 39,
Opportunities for Growth. It seems that I do not act accordingly to the
situation and environment when problem solving and working within a group.
Creating Clarity: Visioning and
Mobilization: 46, Opportunities for Growth. I seem to be only sufficient in
understanding the outcome and moving toward an end.
Building Trust: 58, Stronger Score. I
have interpersonal skills that I can use to gain followers and work well with
others.
Sharing Power and Influence: 47,
Stronger Score. I show myself as a leader, but I could work on the influence I
place over others.
Developing People: 39, Opportunities for
Growth. I seem to lack the ability to bring the best out of others, expecially
in a leadership role. I want to work on this skill so that I can create a
stronger group and influence others to dig deeper and perform at their best.
Self Reflecting: 64, Excellent Score. I
can reflect on my actions and their results efficiently. I am able to look deep
into my own actions and see the flaws that can result in failures and
less-than-acceptable results. Also, I can identify my own strengths and promote
those within a leadership role, hopefully assigning my weaker abilities to
others who can perform better than I.
I want to be the type of leader who leads through assigning
roles to others and building a strong team by allowing each person’s strengths
to show. I want to be one who can identify those strengths and use them to the
best of my ability to propel the group forward.
It's sounds like you have a good principal to work for. It would have unnerved me a little if he kept coming in while I was teaching. I guess you get used to it once you realize he's not looking for issues with you personally.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was different at first and it made me nervous. Though, he never came in to catch me doing something wrong, but to make sure the students were behaving and that they were focused on learning. If a student was not focused on their learning he would address the issue with the student and ensure that they were not a negative influence in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI was told by a very good mentor that to be a good leader you must be a good delegator. I agree with you statement where you said if you can identify your strength and use them to the best of your ability to propel a group forward then that my friend is a networking collaboration of team work. Where can I find a principal like yours he sounds like he is very in tune with the needs of teachers and students. I like that he is open to technology, questions and the well being of all.
ReplyDeleteNice scores.