Successful Principal Characteristics

           The last few weeks of class have been interesting.  I have learned how to navigate an online class and a lot about leadership.  Through this reflection I am going to explore four characteristics of what a successful principal should posses.

  “In matters of style, swim with the current;
In matters of principle, stand like a rock.”
                                    - T. Jefferson

            This quote describes my first characteristic of leadership, authentic inner direction.  According to Evans (2007), the authentic leader possesses “ a source of inner direction” (139), which continuously leads the principal toward effective long-range planning and routine problem solving.  Also, the inner direction of principals defines them as leaders because they will consistently pay attention to what is important and good for the school.  The inner direction manifests itself through strong actions, which results in a “not just saying, but a doing mentality.”  Evans describes that authentic leaders are much like Popeye the sailor, they know who they are, what they want, and what they are good at (Evans, 2007).  Quality principals have authentic inner direction.

“And when we think we lead, we are most led.”
                                    - Lord Byron

            Lord Byron is simply describing that leadership is a give and take process, or being both a lion and a lamb.  Effective leaders know how to embody two varying personalities; one that is learning and serving while the other is directing and leading.  Being the lamb means working hard to make other people successful—and then giving them the credit and enabling others to work by sharing the power (Murphy, 2007).  Being the lion encompasses setting directions, leading by example, demanding high standards and holding staff and students accountable.  Quality principals are both lions and lambs.

“People are more easily led than driven.”
                                    - David Harold Fink

            Fink is suggesting that leading is much different than just forcing people to do what you say.  To me an effective leader understands the importance of creating metanoia or a shift of mind in their staffs’ everyday thinking patterns.  This characteristic focuses on teamwork and the idea of “we” and not “I.”  Metanoias create environments where the common vision is embraced by all workers and is resonated throughout the organization as pride-in-work-mentality.  This mind shift leads staff to a higher understanding of their work and fosters intrinsic motivation, consequently, alleviating a command and conquer approach from the administration (Senge, 2007).  Quality principals believe in metanoia.

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
                                    - Ralph Waldo Emerson

            Emerson believes that a leader is one who believes in taking transformational action.  My background of teaching has been served in the inner city and all the schools I have worked in need transformation.  A great transformational principal will evaluate the current status of a school and then set direction, develop their staff, and redesign the organization.  Transformational leaders inspire trust and confidence in others and work wholeheartedly to create results (Leithwood, 2007).  Quality principals are transformational leaders.

References

 Evans, R. (2007). The authentic leader. In . Jossey & . Bass (Eds.), The jossey-bass reader on   educational leadership (2nd ed., pp. 135-154). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Leithwood, K. A. (2007). Transformation school leadership in a transactional policy world. In .             Jossey & . Bass (Eds.), The jossey-bass reader on educational leadership (2nd ed., pp.                183-196). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Murphy, J. (2007). The unheroic side of leadership. In . Jossey & . Bass (Eds.), The jossey-bass   reader on educational leadership (2nd ed., pp. 60). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Senge, P. M. (2007). Give ma a lever long enough.and single-handed I can move the world. In .             Jossey & . Bass (Eds.), The jossey-bass reader on educational leadership (2nd ed., pp. 3-            13). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.