Due: 13th June
E koekoe te tūī, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū.
The tūī chatters, the parrot gabbles, the wood pigeon coos.
Effective education leaders tend to conduct themselves in a certain way and usually have several similarities regarding the way they interact with others and approach both their day-to-day work and long-term goals. Ultimately, the success of a leader comes down to a person’s character. Successful leaders make conscious choices that leave a deep and meaningful impact on others.
Disposition: The predominant or prevailing tendency of one’s spirit; natural, mental and emotional outlook or mood; characteristic attitude.
Leadership Dispositions:
- Self-managing and self-aware
Leaders need to be able to manage themselves before effectively managing others. Successful leaders are self-managing, meaning that they can prioritise their own goals, are responsible for accomplishing them and are able to effectively regulate their time, attention and emotions. Additionally, successful leaders are self-aware. They are completely at ease with themselves and take the time to acknowledge their smaller wins, rather than focusing on bigger failures. It is a leader’s sense of self-awareness that draws others to follow them.
- Effective communicators
In order to be a successful leader, you must be able to communicate effectively. Successful leaders can communicate on all levels, are approachable and work to involve people from all different work levels. Furthermore, successful leaders know when they should talk and when they should listen. They have the ability to clearly and succinctly explain everything from organisational goals to daily tasks to their team members, ensuring that all members are aware of expectations.
- Accountable and responsible
To be a successful leader, you must understand how to use your power and authority appropriately and without abusing it. Successful leaders hold themselves accountable and take responsibility for their own mistakes. They take ownership of their actions and expect their team members to do the same.
- Visionary
Successful leaders are able to look forward into the future and from there establish clear and tangible goals that will benefit their organisation’s future. As a visionary, leaders must be adaptable and agile, as they incorporate change without losing sight of their original goal. With this, successful leaders are confident and optimistic, as they inspire enthusiasm within their teams to strive for the future.
- Creative and innovative
Successful leaders are courageous in that they risk experimentation and encourage creativity amongst their employees. To be an effective leader you need to foster innovation, as doing so will drive your organisation forward and allow you to successfully navigate the changing business landscape.
- Able to work in a team
Effective leaders understand that it takes more than one person to create success within an organisation. Strong leaders are open to the ideas of others and delegate work to increase productivity. Ultimately, successful leadership is built from the people around you and powerful leaders know how to build a team that inspires and creates success.
- Empathetic
To successfully lead, you must be able to understand the perspectives and feelings of others and acknowledge the impact your actions may have on your team. Without empathy, a leader will be unable to communicate effectively with their employees, resulting in fragile team morale. Successful leaders are empathetic towards others, approachable, willing to listen and contribute to raising the morale of those around them. It is their capacity to care about their staff that makes them beloved by their team.
Provocation:
What do you believe is the key leadership requisite for 21st Century leaders? We would love to hear your personal perspectives as leaders.
In the comments below, rank the above seven leadership dispositions from 1-7 in terms of importance. You are welcome to share any thoughts that explain your perspective.
Readings:
Mindsets, Dispositions and Practices of Highly Effective School Leaders, Dr Bobby Moore: https://www.epicimpactedgroup.com/blog/2017/7/7/mindsets-dispositions-and-practices-of-highly-effective-school-leaders
24 Responses
1. Empathy
2. Self Awareness
3 Accountability
4. Effective Communication
5. Visionary Leadership
6. Teamwork and Collabopration
7. Creativity
I feel that most of these dispositions are interrelated and hard to break apart. I think it is very important for a leader to be able to understand, and manage themself effectively, in a way that leaves space for interracting with others. I also think that great leadership is rarely a sole leader, but usually a team that collectively hold most of these dispositions. This job is impossible alone.
This prompt was just begging for a debate. For me, it is evident that every quality here is essential to being a capable leader and that putting one 1st and another at 7th does not necessarily diminish their importance against the others. However, see below for a short justification for my order.
1) Self-managing and self-aware
As much as I’m open to debate on the general order I hold firm on this coming first, particularly self-awareness, which I believe to be the essential quality that guides our actions and words. The ability to know if your vision is appropriate and well-received, to know if your communication is being heard the way it is intended, to successfully show empathy and work collaboratively – these things do not not occur without self-awareness. Only when we know how ourselves and how we are coming across can we be truly successful leaders.
2) Visionary
Leaders need to be able to see the big picture and to be thinking ahead of others. It is our teacher’s job to manage the day to day, but ours to look to the future. Those leaders who can hold in their mind clear next steps for the school, for students, for staff, and who have developed that ability to think about the next 1-3 years, 3-5 years, are those who keep their schools ahead of the curve.
3) Effective communicators
Ideas mean nothing without the ability to successfully communicate them. In any iteration of this list, I feel that being an effective communicator needs to be near the top of the list.
4) Empathetic
Empathetic leaders are, for me, the most effective leaders I have worked with. We need to have their fingers on the pulse of individuals and the school staff as whole. We need to understand and respect how our staff are feeling and make sure that our actions reflect this understanding. We also need to provide space for our staff to share thoughts, concerns and ideas; something that will likely not happen if they do not perceive us to be empathetic.
5) Accountable and responsible
Being a leader holds great responsibilities, to both students and staff. Being accountable is something that we all expect from our staff and hope to instil into students. It is also a quality that teachers especially look for in their leaders. It is of great importance, sitting within self-management/self-awareness in my opinion.
6) Able to work in a team
A fundamental skill in any people-based profession – but a leader who struggles to work in a team, but knows how to manage and inspire people who can, can still be an effective leader.
7) Creative and innovative
Again, both are fundamental to our profession. However the creativity of a school flows both up and down. Our next layers of leaders, teaching staff, even children, bring creativity to a school and an effective leader can lack these skills in comparison to others with great creativity. Innovation for me also falls under being a visionary to an extent.
Kia ora e te whanau,
I have been battling within myself to consider which of these seven characteristics should take precedence and priority in my own school context. I remember we did this as an exercise in our original face to face hui and I was out of line with the official ranking answers recieved. However on reflection and engagement with the course readings here is my list of leadership qualities in rank order of priority in relation to my understanding and my own contextual needs and strengths.
The key requisite leadership skill for 21st Century leaders I have read about recently and have seen within my own context is Emotional Intelligence. The reason I have chosen this is because our school closely aligns with the foundational value of hauora. This also aligns with my own understanding of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. If we are unwell in one area or neglect our hauora then our whare is unstable. Likewise if our team is emotionally struggling or has health issues then we are at an impasse. Each of our team needs to feel valued, understood and have a sense of buy in, connection and belonging. Using this as my central requisite I have composed the following list.
1) Self-managing and self-aware: You can’t give someone your oxygen mask without having your own on first.
Leaders need to be able to be seen as competent in their area of expertise before they attempt to manage others. Being self aware emotionally means that I can walk into any sticky situation with understanding of the room and utilising our best combined strengths efficiently.
2) Empathetic: Being an empathetic leader means we can still show dignity, respect, safe and value your team as well as being assertive when necessary. We must understand how our decision effects others and team morale.
3) Able to work in a team: Effective leaders need to know that it takes more than one tangata to steer, paddle and turn a waka. No person is an island. We need to be open to allowing others to control their areas of expertise and take the load from time to time too. One of the hallmarks of a solid classroom is when we can step away and things work without our constant guidance. This is an indicator that tasks and priorities are commonly understood. Delegation is key to promote happiness, confidence and optimism in our teams and prevent us from losing team loyalties.
4) Effective communicators
In our context this is still in the storming and norming phase. When is it ok to contact staff members: outside of work hours, holidays etc. These need to be noted and held sacred. Communicating clearly both ways is a work on for all of us, timeframes and expectations need to be clear and reiterated.
5) Visionary: I feel like this should be higher, however, I have personally witnessed those who do not show respect or support to their colleague become a lone visionary which is not ideal in a larger school setting. Creating achievable and maintainable goals for your staff and faculty requires a good analyser to look at the strengths and weaknesses based on the data and creating a shared workable vision with their team. Goals need to be accounted for as a team also.
6) Creative and innovative
Successful leaders show guts when they put forward new ideas and allow their team to input their whakaaro. This relates strongly with team work, considering all angles and moving forward with vision and as a team. Perhaps this sounds idealistic but necessary especially for those kura who find that previous practises are no longer fit for purpose or for the new students and families arriving at our door. Looking sideways at other kura also helps us to find systems that can be adapted to our own context. I know that this is crucial but somehow it ended up at the bottom of my very pragmatic list.
7) Accountable and responsible: This is lower on the spectrum simply because this is not what we do on a regular day to day basis. It is of course important that we are show accountability and responsibility for the choices that we have made. However if we have clear understanding of the situations and contexts in which we make the decisions then we need only explain our rationale in regards to the data we had at hand. We expect all of our stakeholders to do the same *see 5 above*.
Sadly this ranking exercise does not do justice to each of these dispositions. Some of these could be at the same level or achieved simultaneously or in a completely different order depending on the nature and needs of your school environment.
Thanks for your consideration!
1) Visionary: Successful leaders are visionary, adaptable, and agile, setting clear future-oriented goals while maintaining optimism and inspiring enthusiasm within their teams.
2) Effective communicators: Successful leaders communicate effectively, engaging with all levels, knowing when to talk and listen, and clearly explaining goals and tasks to ensure everyone understands expectations.
3) Able to work in a team: Successful leaders recognize the importance of teamwork, value others’ ideas, delegate tasks to boost productivity, and build inspiring teams that drive success.
4) Accountable and responsible: Successful leaders appropriately use their power and authority without abuse, holding themselves accountable for their mistakes and taking ownership of their actions while expecting the same from their team members.
5) Empathetic: Successful leaders are empathetic, approachable, and attentive, understanding the perspectives and feelings of others to effectively communicate and boost team morale, making them beloved by their team.
6) Creative and innovative: Successful leaders are courageous, fostering innovation and creativity among employees to drive the organization forward and navigate the changing business landscape.
7) Self-managing and self-aware: Successful leaders must be self-managing and self-aware, effectively prioritizing and accomplishing their goals while regulating their time, attention, and emotions, and acknowledging smaller wins to inspire others.
These are my rankings for the seven leadership dispositions from 1-7 in terms of importance.
1. Able to work in a team: This is most important because it enables one to be a catalyst for a positive shift or change within your team.
2. Visionary: Being able to think, see and share one’s thoughts about what the future could look like.
3. Creative and innovative: This comes straight after visionary because one has new ideas and have a desire to drive change.
4. Effective communicators: Making sure that communication gets delivered appropriately and reaches people to make positive impacts.
5. Accountable and responsible: Being accountable and responsible for what one says and does is a basis for credibility.
6. Empathetic: Always having an ability to understand and value other people’s feelings.
7. Self-managing and self-aware: I would rate this last because you are very aware of how to self-manage yourself and check your own awareness.
Here is my ranking. I made many attempts but kept getting an error message.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U9nk1kAFE3MBUstFZKLKAyuzEHTCHJ-ME-XUDi1EVxg/edit?usp=sharing
I tried to post but keep getting an error message.
1. Self-managing and self-aware
2. Effective Communicators
3. Empathy
4. Accountable and Responsible
5. Visionary
6. Able to work in a team
7. Creative and innovative
I think the best leaders understand themselves first and foremost, to recognise your strengths and weaknesses helps you to build an effective team around you. Communicating well links to empathy (lack of transparency can negatively affect people’s well-being) and accountability. Being visionary and creative can be roles that are filled by your leadership team. Team worker is a bonus, but often a leader is on their own, surrounded by a strong diverse team.
My ranking:
Self-managing and self-aware
Leaders need to be able to manage themselves before effectively managing others. This helps us to lead by example.
Visionary
Successful leaders need to know their purpose and where they are going – we can’t encourage others to follow us if we don’t know where we are going.
Effective communicators
Thirdly you must be able to communicate effectively – to members of the leadership team, to staff, to students, to stakeholders, to the community. The vision needs to be clearly stated and the path you will take to get there, as well as your expectations.
Empathetic
To successfully lead, you must be able to understand the perspectives and feelings of others and acknowledge the impact your actions may have on your team. This is important – we can’t communicate well if we cannot empathise and see what the needs of others might be so we can ensure support is in place.
Creative and innovative
Successful leaders need to be able to think outside the box, be flexible and willing to change. They need to be willing to listen to the ideas of others – leading doesn’t mean you have all the ideas, it also means you can take the ideas of others and make them happen for them too.
Able to work in a team
Effective leaders know that they can’t do it by themselves – they need to be surrounded by a team with the same purpose and goals – all rowing in the same direction, for the same outcomes.
Accountable and responsible
Finally, a good leader needs to be accountable. Someone has to be responsible for the final decision and you need to stand by what you believe in and follow it through. I also think reflection is a big part of this accountability and responsibility. We have to know what we could do better or differently next time – a good leader is also a good learner.
My ranking is as follows:
1. Self managing and self-aware
2. Effective communicators
3. Empathetic
4. Able to work in a team
5. Visionary
6. Accountable and responsible
7. Creative and innovative
Self managing is important for educational leaders as no two days are the same. It is important that we can manage our emotions and remain composed in unforeseen situations, as well as looking after our well being. Being self aware and reflective helps us to identify our strengths and gaps for development and lead with humility and confidence.
Education leaders communicate with diverse people from all walks of life and backgrounds daily. Therefore having good verbal and written communication skills is paramount. Being able to show empathy helps leaders to connect with others and strengthens relationships within teams.
Working in a team and having a vision go hand in hand. It is important to have a vision but we know that the most successful outcomes are when visions are co-constructed within the team. (Robertson, Jam, Earl, & Lorna, 2014).
Accountable and responsible – leaders are accountable and responsible for fulfilling their duties and ensuring the best outcomes for tamariki. They are open and honest about mistakes, understanding that they are inevitable and powerful opportunities for learning and growing.
If all of the above are in place this can support a creative and innovative environment in which leaders and others can freely take risks, and experiment with new ideas and problem solving.
Officially I would hope an effective leader had lots of these on par with each other as lots go hand in hand with being an effective leader and if any were lacking or absent then overall leadership would also begin to show cracks.
My personal ranking is though
1. Able to work in a team – You are only as good as the team you are leading and if you lack the skills to work alongside others then your leadership skills will be ineffective as your team will possibly see you as the kink in the chain rather then the link.
2. Self-managing and self-aware – For your ability to work in a team to work to be effective, being self aware needs to be a very close 2nd.
3. Effective Communicator – Speaks for itself in leadership roles! I would extend this to include that a good leader would also be able to draw good communication from their team as well.
4. Accountable and Responsible – Sometimes your wrong, sometimes you are right. I would hope its always the later but in reality it isn’t but being able to stand firm and say you lived up to these attributes is important to being an effective leader.
5. Visionary – A good leader is able to communicate not only the destination but the road that is travelled to get there too.
6. Empathetic – open to a different mindset or ideas.
7. Creative and Innovative – Will also go hand in hand with the rest once the other attributes are embedded into the culture of the team.
Here is my order and reasoning for leadership dispositions:
1 Effective communicators
I put this first as the main role of a leader is to effectively oversee and communicate development ideas and change with relevant people in the team in a way that is digestible to them.
2 Empathetic
As discussed at our workshop, being emotionally intelligent is one of the most important aspects of being a strong leader in the 21st century. So the ability for a leader to be empathetic to perspectives and feelings bolsters a team’s morale and trust.
3 Accountable and responsible
One of the more important character building aspects is this point here, the Ethos of a person comes down to their ability to take responsibility for their actions as well as to hold not only themselves but those around them to a high standard of accountability.
4 Self-managing and self-aware
This connects with character as well and the idea of being responsible and accountable for one’s actions. Self management is a core skill of any leader. The ability to manage yourself before trying to manage others seems fundamental. Self awareness helps for falling prey to something like the dunning-kruger effect.
5 Visionary
This is a bit lower down on the list but as everything in this list the difference between points is miniscule. I believe it is important for a leader to be able to see the vision of where they hope to get their team to be able to back it and action it with full conviction. The creation of the vision should be made as a team effort.
6 Able to work in a team
Being able to work in a team in very important but being able to lead a team doesn’t always facilitate needing to do this. I believe it is good to be a good team worker if you are leading a team but being able to manage everyone else in the team is your priority.
7 Creative and innovative
This is possibly the aspect a leader can most heavily lean on those around them to access. Having creatives and innovative individuals around you is core to any create developing team so this doesn’t need to fall squarely on the shoulder of the leader. That said, I think these skills are very advantageous for a leader to have. Looking for new avenues and ways to strive forward is important for the development of an efficient and effective team.
As others have mentioned, ranking these seven dispositions is challenging because I think they’re all vital for successful leadership. I would say, also, that most of these dispositions are crucial for all teachers, not just those in leadership roles. We all need to work as part of a team, we all need to be empathetic, and we all need to be self-managing.
The disposition that stood out to me was being visionary. A successful leader needs to have a vision, they need to be goal driven, and they need to inspire their team to get on board to make the vision a reality. Following on from that, I think leaders also need to be creative and innovative. There needs to be a desire to look for ways to do things ‘better’, rather than just doing what’s always been done (what’s that line about insanity?!). Being creative and innovative is about finding better, more efficient, more engaging, ways of doing what needs to be done. It’s because of this I’ve put it in these in the top two spots. Without vision, creativity, and innovation, we’re just managers rather than leaders.
I’ve put being able to work in a team in seventh spot, not because I don’t think it’s important, but because leadership is about leading the team, not just being ‘part’ of it. At times, I’ve found being a leader can be quite a lonely role because, ultimately, the buck stops with me. I think the positive aspects of being part of a team, e.g. collaboration, listening to others, are covered by other dispositions, like being an effective communicator and showing empathy.
Here’s my ranking:
1. Visionary
2. Creative and Innovative
3. Effective Communicator
4. Empathetic
5. Self-managing and Self-aware
6. Accountable and Responsible
7. Able to Work in a Team
Module 7: Leadership Dispositions
My ranking:
1. Self-managing and self-aware
2. Accountable and responsible
3. Effective communicators
4. Visionary
5. Empathetic
6. Able to work in a team
7. Creative and innovative
Self-management, accountability, and communication are highly valued because they form the foundation of effective leadership. Self-management involves the ability to regulate one’s emotions, stay organized, and be disciplined, which is crucial for leaders to model stability and reliability. Accountability ensures that leaders take responsibility for their actions and decisions, fostering trust and respect among team members. Communication is the glue that holds a team together, enabling clear and effective collaboration, and conflict resolution.
Following these foundational qualities are visionary thinking and empathy. Visionary leaders can see the bigger picture, setting clear, achievable goals that inspire and motivate. Empathy allows leaders to connect with their team members on a personal level, understanding their needs, concerns, and aspirations.
Effective teamwork and creativity are essential components of successful leadership. Effective teamwork involves collaborating with others, leveraging diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals. It requires strong interpersonal skills, mutual respect, and the ability to work harmoniously in a group. Creativity (thinking outside the box) and embracing innovative approaches encourages experimentation and the exploration of new ideas, leading to solutions and continuous improvement.
These were very difficult to rate, as all are needed for a high functioning leader/leadership team:
1. Visionary: Creating a clear vision of the future and developing the process required to achieve it
2. Self-managing/self-aware: Being intrinsically motivated and aware of one’s own strengths/gaps so that you can stay in your sweet spot and build a team around you that compliments each other
3. Creative and innovative: This is a key skill needed within the leadership team in order to see the vision achieved in complex school environments
4. Accountable and responsible: This is all about capability and integrity to me – both of which are very important for building trust in an organisation
5. Empathetic: Being able to understand and connect with your team in a way that shows you care and understand
6. Able to work in a team: Drawing on each other’s strengths, developing distributive leadership
7. Effective communicators: Clear communication from the top through the appropriate channels is very important
As a leader going into the 21st Century, I have ranked each of the dispositions in the following order:
1. Effective Communicator
2. Self-Managing and Self-Aware
3. Able to Work as a Team
4. Empathic
5. Accountable and Responsible
6. Visionary
7. Creative and Innovative
I feel that each of these areas are important, as they are interwoven within each other and work together to form an effective leader. Having to separate them out and rank them in importance, is not an easy task because these 7 dispositions together form the foundation of a good leadership model and need to be seen as a whole.
Your strengths as a leader support your areas of development and the key is to continue to strengthen all disposition areas throughout your leadership journey.
Personal Viewpoint of a Key Leadership requisite for 21st Century Leaders
Emotional Intelligence
Coming from a current position where there is growing levels of mistrust and feelings of inadequacy, I honestly believe that as a leader it is essential that you possess skills in emotional intelligence – both to understand and regulate your own (such as being self-aware and empathetic as mentioned in the leadership dispositions above) but also to influence and understand the individuals you lead. As a leader we are responsible for setting the tone of the school culture and for this to be positive, safe and encouraging for all as leaders we need to be socially aware (have our finger on the pulse so to say), confident in managing adult relationships and behaviours calmly, and be someone who can treat, motivate and support others in ways which they want to be treated, motivated and supported. Without providing this for each individual within the collective we can potentially miss early signs of our culture souring and the ability to provide solutions for this before it is too late.
My ranking of the seven leadership dispositions
This was challenging as I believe some of these go hand in hand with the other – I could make my ranking out of 3 and I also think this is very contextual but here is what I believe:
1 – Visionary
2 – Self managing + Self aware
3 – Empathetic
4 – Effective communicator
5 – Accountable and Responsible
6 – Able to work in a team
7 – Creative and Innovative
1.Self-managing and self-aware
Leaders need to be able to manage themselves before effectively managing others. Successful leaders are self-managing, meaning that they can prioritise their own goals, are responsible for accomplishing them and are able to effectively regulate their time, attention and emotions. Additionally, successful leaders are self-aware. They are completely at ease with themselves and take the time to acknowledge their smaller wins, rather than focusing on bigger failures. It is a leader’s sense of self-awareness that draws others to follow them.
2.Effective communicators
In order to be a successful leader, you must be able to communicate effectively. Successful leaders can communicate on all levels, are approachable and work to involve people from all different work levels. Furthermore, successful leaders know when they should talk and when they should listen. They have the ability to clearly and succinctly explain everything from organisational goals to daily tasks to their team members, ensuring that all members are aware of expectations.
3.Accountable and responsible
To be a successful leader, you must understand how to use your power and authority appropriately and without abusing it. Successful leaders hold themselves accountable and take responsibility for their own mistakes. They take ownership of their actions and expect their team members to do the same.
4Empathetic
To successfully lead, you must be able to understand the perspectives and feelings of others and acknowledge the impact your actions may have on your team. Without empathy, a leader will be unable to communicate effectively with their employees, resulting in fragile team morale. Successful leaders are empathetic towards others, approachable, willing to listen and contribute to raising the morale of those around them. It is their capacity to care about their staff that makes them beloved by their team.
5Able to work in a team
Effective leaders understand that it takes more than one person to create success within an organisation. Strong leaders are open to the ideas of others and delegate work to increase productivity. Ultimately, successful leadership is built from the people around you and powerful leaders know how to build a team that inspires and creates success.
6.Visionary
Successful leaders are able to look forward into the future and from there establish clear and tangible goals that will benefit their organisation’s future. As a visionary, leaders must be adaptable and agile, as they incorporate change without losing sight of their original goal. With this, successful leaders are confident and optimistic, as they inspire enthusiasm within their teams to strive for the future.
7.Creative and innovative
Successful leaders are courageous in that they risk experimentation and encourage creativity amongst their employees. To be an effective leader you need to foster innovation, as doing so will drive your organisation forward and allow you to successfully navigate the changing business landscape.
Picking a single most important requisite is tough, as effective leadership is a complex web of skills. But if we were to focus on one, a strong argument I believe can can be made for adaptability in the face of constant change. The 21st century throws a lot at us. Technology is rapidly evolving, the workplace is becoming more global and interconnected. Leaders who are inflexible will struggle to keep pace.
Here’s a possible rating order of the qualities listed, with the most important for 21st-century leadership at the top:
1. Self-managing and self-aware: This forms the foundation for all other qualities. A leader who can’t manage themselves will struggle to manage others effectively, adapt to change, or build strong teams.
2. Effective communicators: Clear communication is crucial for getting buy-in, fostering trust, and navigating complex situations.
3. Accountable and responsible: Leaders set the tone for the organization. Taking responsibility for decisions and actions builds trust and inspires others to do the same.
4. Visionary: A strong vision provides direction and purpose, especially in times of change. However, adaptability is key to ensure the vision remains relevant.
5. Able to work in a team: Collaboration is essential in today’s world. Leaders who can build strong teams and leverage the talents of others will be more successful.
6. Empathetic: Understanding and considering the perspectives of others fosters a positive work environment and allows for better decision-making.
7. Creative and innovative: While important, creativity and innovation can flourish within a framework of strong leadership built on the qualities above.
This is just my perspective, and the importance of each quality can vary depending on the specific situation. However, as mentioned earlier, adaptability, self-awareness, communication, and accountability form a strong foundation for effective leadership in the complex and ever-changing world of the 21st century.
1. Self-managing and self-aware
2. Effective communicators
3. Accountable and responsible
4. Visionary
5. Able to work in a team
6. Empathetic
7. Creative and innovative
Before a leader can effectively manage or communicate with others, they must first understand and manage themselves. Self-awareness allows leaders to recognise their strengths, weaknesses, emotions, and biases. This self-knowledge is fundamental because it enables better decision making, regulation of emotions, humility and authenticity. If you cannot manage your own tasks, time, or emotions you will struggle to guide and grow others.
Module 7: Provocation / My ranking:
1. Visionary – being able to have a vision, a clear road map of what to achieve with clear goals and outputs. Ability to think critically and understand difficult issues. Great school leaders have the courage to say no, to not get distracted, and to choose simplicity over complexity. Being selective of the voices you allow to speak into the vision or direction for your school.
2. Self-managing and self-aware – being able to be aware of my own weaknesses and strengths, plan effectively according to goals and outcomes. Having clear and consistent expectations of myself and others. Knowing where to spend energy and time. Leading with integrity, safeguarding of valuable resources, leading with courage in making choices/decisions, staying the course (vision), keeping the priorities where they should be, on the students, teachers and parents. Having a strong work ethic.
3. Effective Communicators – definition: Effective communication / communicators requires us to be clear and complete in what we are trying to express. Being an effective communicator in our professional and personal lives involves learning the skills to exchange information with clarity, empathy, and understanding. Being able to deliver a clear plan to my team giving them the opportunity to ‘buy’ into the vision.
4. Able to work in a team – knowing every team member’s strengths and weaknesses, and delegating responsibilities accordingly to ensure the vision is implemented effectively and outcomes are delivered on time.
Steve Keating says “ Authentic Leaders invest their experience, time, energy, and resources to help other people grow. Potentially, they help those people grow into leaders themselves. They know that to help other people grow they need to constantly be growing themselves as well. When they do find themselves in a position of leadership they don’t see it as “arriving,” they see it as part of their never ending journey of self-development. “
Working and growing in a team, grows authentic leaders and we are collectively working towards our vision using our strengths.
5. Accountable and responsible – if the team buys into the vision, using their strengths to deliver outcomes on-time this will ensure that everyone understands their roles and takes responsibility for their own actions. It stops micromanaging because everyone is clear on what role they are playing and what they are responsible for.
6.Creative and innovative – by empowering the team to buy into the vision, knowing their roles and responsibilities would encourage team members to look for creative and innovative solutions, this depends on a high trust environment created by the management and flowing through the organisation.
7. Empathetic – ensures that the leader is open to listen to other team members ideas, understanding of personal circumstances, looking at team members as people not just a number, being aware of the emotional capacity of the team and team members. Emphatic leaders can motivate team members to change behaviours and attitudes, by putting his/her best effort into treating people with dignity and respect, always making them feel safe and valued, be attuned to every conversation regardless of the message. Great leaders are always reflective on their interactions with others and review if the desired outcomes of the conversation were achieved.
My Ranking:
1 & 2- Accountable and responsible /Self-managing and self-aware(key leadership requisite) – to be able to successfully lead your team they need to trust and respect you as a leader. Trust and respect is built on being accountable, responsible, self managing and self-aware. By being an accountable and responsible leader who is able to manage and be aware of themselves you can then expect that of your team members as well.
3 – Empathetic
4 – Effective communicators
5 – Able to work in a team
6 – Visionary
7 – Creative and innovative
All 7 leadership dispositions are essential to effective leadership but without the foundation of accountability, responsibility, self awareness and self-management first the other 6 dispositions would not be as effective. I have ordered these leadership dispositions this way as I believe that they build on each other e.g., without effective communication you can not effectively work as a team, and without effective team work you can not inspire to strive together for change.
MY RANKING
1.Self-managing and self-aware
2.Effective communicators
3.Accountable and responsible
4.Empathetic
5.Able to work in a team
6.Visionary
7.Creative and innovative
Personal Perspective:
Self-management and self-awareness are the most important skills for leaders. These skills are the foundation for all other leadership qualities. A leader who understands themselves and can manage their emotions, time, and priorities well can handle the challenges of leadership with strength and clear thinking.
Inaa kei te mohio koe ko wai koe, I anga mai koe i hea, kei te mohio koe. Kei te anga atu ki hea.
If you know who you are and where you are from, then you will know where you are going.
1. Self-managing and self-aware
2. Accountable and responsible
3. Effective communicators
4. Visionary
5. Empathetic
6. Able to work in a team
7. Creative and innovative
The core qualities of self-management, accountability, and communication are ranked highest as they form the foundation of effective leadership by enabling control, integrity, and transparency. Next are being visionary and empathetic, as these qualities inspire teams with clear goals and foster understanding and support. Lastly, effective teamwork and creativity are crucial for leveraging diverse skills and seeking innovative solutions through experimentation.