Teaching what makes a good leader

A leader that leads by example almost always receives respect and admiration, without which he or she will find little luck in leadership. Change, while good, can also be disruptive when it occurs too frequently. In the case of school leadership, it has been documented that frequent turnover results in a negative school climate, which in turn has a negative effect on student performance.

The negative effect of principal turnover suggests that principals need time to make meaningful improvements in their schools. The best leaders, therefore, are willing to commit to a school and persevere despite the obstacles or challenges. Perhaps the most important of all qualities that a school leader can possess is the unquenchable thirst for knowledge. As John F. They are humble in their knowledge yet confident in their abilities. Which is why two of the most important questions leaders face are as simple as they are profound: Are you learning, as an organization and as an individual, as fast as the world is changing?

Are you as determined to stay interested as to be interesting? It is hard to think of an industry where constant learning is more applicable than education. To be a successful and effective leader is no easy feat. Yet, effective school leaders are desperately needed in thousands of schools and educational institutions across this country and around the world. His areas of expertise include online learning pedagogy and online teaching and learning best practices.

As an advocate for quality online education, Dr. Lathan earned all his advanced degrees at notable fully online programs. He received his B. Read Full Bio ». Get the Free Checklist. Although leadership can take different forms in different roles, many qualities of leaders overlap across all fields and careers.

One important field that affects all others in society is education. Teachers can make a difference in the lives of their students by implementing key teacher leadership qualities. In order to set the right example for their students, teachers should build their teaching practices upon a solid foundation of leadership.

In fact, all those who pursue careers in educational environments—including but not limited to teachers, central office leaders, nonprofit leaders, foundation leaders, and principals—can approach their positions as leaders in education. Since leadership is a way of being, leaders in different educational roles can make a difference by setting the right example for the students they impact.

Students interested in pursuing careers as educational leaders can earn their Master of Education in Education Policy and Leadership at American University. While leadership is implemented differently across various fields and careers, core leadership qualities remain the same.

There are several essential qualities that constitute good leaders, from excellent communication and decision-making skills to integrity. Many educational leaders and scholars have researched and written about leadership in education and have created a definition of teacher leadership. This helps teachers and educational leaders set a trajectory for their careers. Two experts in this area who exhibit teacher leadership qualities in their own lives are Peter Senge and Ronald A.

According to Ronald A. Heifetz in his book Leadership Without Easy Answers, there is a crisis in leadership in every setting. He argues that the problem lies not only with the need for leaders but with the societal expectations placed on leaders.

He offers a social contract including both theory and practice to potential leaders and those who look to leaders. He draws upon real-life examples of leaders, having researched their lives and decisions for several years. They have to be willing to follow their convictions and bring their organization to new places. In education, this is most sorely needed in response to the test-based regimen that has taken over our schools at the expense of true education and social-emotional and character development.

It is this deep commitment that makes leadership in schools so challenging, because it requires a commitment to every employee, student, and parent. The performance of a leader must be judged by his or her skills and the character of his or her performance in the many and complex roles that leadership demands. Using the seven cornerstones of leading with character, derived from the life and work of Sargent Shriver, educators and those concerned with education have a tool for both evaluating and improving leadership competencies along both moral and performance dimensions.