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
Authenticity is indeed the key to effective leadership, and that relies on self- awareness, constant reflection and adaptation
So sorry for this massively late submission!
My response to this would’ve been different during my previous years in Leadership but this year I’ve had to adapt to a whole new approach and working through this course has helped me uncover the values which truly underpin what I believe to be effective and authentic Leadership, as opposed to Management.
1/ Effective, Empathetic communicators: (I know this is a bit of a cheat- combining disposition 1 and 7!)
I used to lead by example when I was classroom-based, using my daily practice to test ideas, tackle team challenges, and share my experiences in team meetings. I also welcomed teachers to observe and reflect in my space. Without this direct interaction, I’ve realised that communication is an indispensable tool. The module provocation lines, ‘successful leaders know when they should talk and when they should listen,’ and ‘Without empathy, a leader will be unable to communicate effectively with their employees,’ deeply resonated with me, enhancing my understanding of communication. Dr. Bobby Moore’s concepts of being ‘empathetically assertive,’ and emotionally intelligent, along with Brené Brown’s discussion of being ‘clear to be kind’ in ‘Dare to Lead,’ emphasised the importance of clarity, conviction, and active listening in communication. These two leadership dispositions must go hand in hand in every leadership activity.
2/ Visionary:
Next, I believe that to be an effective leader in Senior Management, you must hold a long-term vision while maintaining a clear and realistic grasp of the present. This, I think, is the core difference between Middle and Senior Leadership. As discussed in the videos from PLG 2, a Principal thinks three to four years ahead and must effectively and empathetically assert that vision, which ties back to the importance of the aforementioned dispositions. A Leader’s vision encompasses not just the school’s strategic plan, but also its tone and ethos—you set the example for the mindset your staff engages with daily. My Deputy Principal recently told me, ‘you are the magic in the room,’ and I firmly believe this sentiment is intertwined with the disposition of being Visionary.
3/ Self-managing and self-aware:
Leadership at the top can be a lonely place. Despite genuine engagement in teamwork and collaborative practices, there are times when you feel the weight of decisions, the gravity of the vision you are striving to realise, and the consequences of the actions taken. This is the nature of being ‘The Boss.’ Beyond the obvious need to be self-driven, organised, and able to prioritise,being self-aware is what stops that lonely place from being your only place! Recognizing where you are, understanding why, and knowing how to move forward encompasses many of the mindsets, dispositions, and practises Dr. Moore describes. It also enables a leader to sustain their practice and ensure the success of their school or team.
4/ Accountable and responsible:
I think this goes without saying: as the Leader, the buck stops with you. Taking ownership of actions and mistakes not only allows a Leader to practise reflection and resilience but also serves as a model for your staff. This, in turn, supports risk-taking and reflective practice among your team, leading to improvements in practice and pedagogy. It combats the destructive mindset of ‘this is how we’ve always done it’!
5/ Able to work in a team:
Another difference between Management and Leadership that I’ve come to realise is encapsulated in Dr. Moore’s statement, ‘The smartest person in the room is always the room.’ This highlights the importance of collaboration, diverse thinking, and the synergy that emerges from group interactions. It suggests that harnessing the collective wisdom and experience of everyone present leads to better decision-making and problem-solving. A Principal who sets themselves apart as the only one with the answers or the only one capable of doing a ‘proper job’ will ultimately sink the ship.
6/ Creative and Innovative:
I’ve put this one last because as a Leader it’s your job to, ‘foster innovation’ as the Module provocation states, rather than be the one taking the deliberate action to be creative and innovative. I believe if you have the other dispositions above nailed, then you will be promoting the requisite culture for creative thinking and innovative actions and enable your school to thrive.
Thoughtful and thought provoking Abi, a well reasoned and cohesive response
1. Effective Communicators
2. Empathetic
3. Visionary
4. Self-managing and Self-aware
5. Accountable and Responsible
6. Able to Work in a Team
7. Creative and Innovative
Being an effective communicator is first and foremost. Without effective communication the organisation can not function. People appreciate knowing what is happening, who is doing what and why etc.
Having a sense of humour I think is key to being able to build a great culture. Enjoyment and fun in the workplace is essential!
Succinct and insightful, Johanna, and I completely agree about humour and fun!
1. Self-managing and self-aware
This links to the reading conclusion “While you may or may not posses all or any of these dispositions at this moment, they can be developed through coaching and feedback” If you are aware of your selef and managing your self you can work on areas that you would like to develop further.
2. Accountable and Responsible
Taking responsibility for your own actions and holding yourself accountable along with using power and authority appropriately.
3. Empathic
Understanding the perspectives of others and being empathic towards others. Empathy allows effective communication.
4. Effective communicator
Knowing when to talk and when to listen. I thought this was an important point that can often be over looked when thinking about being an effective communicator.
5. Able to work as a team
Working with others to build success within a school.
6. Visionary
Look to the future, keeping goals in mind but being adaptable to incorporate change. Having confidence to help inspire enthusiasm with the team.
7. Creative and innovative
Take risks but also encourage others to take risks.
I could see the reading shared on Mindsets, Dispositions and Practices of Highly Effective School Leaders reflected in the 7 dispositions and how all dispositions link to each other.
Interesting and clear justification for your choices, Leanne
Kia ora team and arohamai for lateness in submission.
I resonate with Sarah’s response also about the importance of having a ‘sense of humour’ and the great quote in the article. This is successful in easing and de-escalating tensions when you have successfully built effective relational trust with your teams – if not, a sense of humour can be taken the wrong way. The disposition that stands out for me and I think has become more important within leadership in the past few years is Empathetically assertive which is your leadership emotional intelligence.
Work in a team – this means the importance of building your team, leading by role modelling, working alongside and with.” Building social capital and teamwork”
Effective communication – within, in and out – “happiness is a choice”
Creative and innovative – allowing strengths of team to build this capacity
Self-managing and self-aware – inspire others to lead – “emotional intelligence”
Empathy – role modelling this with your team and community
Visionary – facilitating the vision of your whole school community and continuous internal evaluation and improvement – “happiness and optimism’
Accountable and responsible – What do we notice? What do we know/not know? What informs our next steps.
Have a great Week 8 and rest of term team!
AC
Really like the empathetically assertive combination, Anna!
Like everyone else I found this task quite difficult and changed my order around many times! Here are my rankings:
1. Able to work in a team – empowering your team to also be leaders and contributors helps with retention and job satisfaction, which is important during a teacher shortage.
2. Effective communicators
3. Empathetic
4. Visionary – I like how confidence and optimism are included in this, these are definitely required when navigating leadership.
5. Self-managing and self-aware
6. Accountable and responsible
7. Creative and innovative – I don’t necessarily agree with putting this last, but to link back to my number 1 ranking, I think you can be very successful when you foster this within your team and not just yourself.
Good point Nicky, the order is very likely to change and shift over time, and in different situations
1. Empathetic
2. Effective Communicators
3. Visionary
4. Self-managing and Self-aware
5. Accountable and Responsible
6. Able to Work in a Team
7. Creative and Innovative
While all seven dispositions are important, empathy stands out as the most vital because it underpins many others. As mentioned in other responses in this module, working within a team allows the team’s strengths to provide opportunities for creativity and innovation.
Empathy in its true form does allow you to ‘stand in the shoes’ of others, while maintaining perspective and focus
Like Ashleigh said, all of these attributes are really important. After reordering a number of times, considering the reading by Dr Bobby Moore, the words from Legacy and Dare to Lead, and my personal experiences, I went for placement of these attributes all being alongside each other as important for 21st century leadership. I’m sure that in one day, it is not uncommon for leaders to use these 7 attributes depending on the situation at hand. Attributes 1, 2, 3 6 and 7, I regularly have to implement on a daily basis and attributes 4 and 5 within the week. They coincide like links on a chain. In saying this, I am still working on these attributes. I’m stronger in some than in others so it’s important that I seek further opinions from trusted colleagues when making important decisions where I’m not feeling 100% confident on the next course of action. I aim to improve with greater knowledge and opportunity. Dr Bobby Brown says that great leaders are always reflective on their interactions with others, reviewing if the desired outcomes were achieved. I think this is very important but only if action is taken from the reflection process.
Similarly Dr Bobby Brown said, that while you may or may not possess all or any of these dispositions that he talks about in his article, they can be developed with coaching or feedback.
In Legacy, James Kerr talks about Creating a Learning Environment, creating purpose and being the best that you can possibly be. A leader I believe who can equally apply these attributes, when required, shows real leadership capability. ‘Be genuine and true to yourself.’
As you say, Cara, these attributes are fluid and changeable, and knowing when to change and why, a key part of authentic leadership
One of the dispositions that stood out to me the most in the reading was ‘sense of humor’. After being surrounded by leaders who demonstrate this for many years, I truly believe that this trait is key in leadership, and in my opinion, should be a requisite. The reading states it can ‘ease tensions, de-escalate conflict, increase positive interaction with others and reduce stress’. I have witnessed this be a successful attribute in many leaders that I look up to, and I try to demonstrate this trait myself as much as possible. One of the quotes that stood out to me most in this particular section of the reading was “A sense of humor is an attitude you adopt where you find humor in even the most challenging circumstances instead of getting upset about everything.” How refreshing!!
1. Effective communications
Good communication can solve anything!
2. Empathetic
Feeling for others builds trust & demonstrates humanity.
3. Able to work in a team
4. Self-managing and self-aware
No one likes a leader who isn’t reflective…
5. Accountable and responsible
–
6. Creative & innovative
Demonstrating creativity & innovation in your job can be contagious & benefit everyone!
7. Visionary
–
Having people respond to humour is usually based in relationship and trust, so when humour is freely and comfortably used, it says a lot about the depth of culture and the relationships within it
I enjoyed reading the article ‘Mindsets, Dispositions and Practices’. The term ‘empathetically assertive’ stood out to me and is a term I might start using myself. I liked the description of the balance between patience and persistence required by a leader in achieving both long term and short term goals. I also liked the discussion having a mindset that prioritizes collaboration over isolation. It reminds me of this whakatauki “Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari he toa takitini” – Success is not mine alone but the work of many.
My rankings of the leaderships dispositions;
Empathy- I believe you need to understand the problem to be able to come up with an effective solution. Leaders need to be able to see an issue from multiple perspectives and anticipate needs and what support may be required. Educational leaders need to have high emotional intelligence and prioritize people in their decision making.
Accountable and responsible- to me this equates to integrity. As a leader your team needs to respect you. This relates to trust and good character.
Effective communicator- if you want to take people with you, they need to understand where they are going? What’s the goal? How are they getting there? and most importantly, why?
Able to work in a team- Going it alone is not realistic, efficient, sustainable or good role modeling for a leader.
Self managing and self aware- Leaders have to be able to ‘walk the talk’ so there is an expectation to model what is being asked of others. We’re not all super organized types of people, we have our own strengths and weaknesses. Self awareness means we’re honest about our shortcomings and we work in ways that support and grow ourselves.
Visionary- A leader needs optimism, enthusiasm and an aspirational outlook for their team.
Creative and innovative- This is not everyone’s strength. This is where good leaders can rely on the wider team to bring the ‘outside the box’ thinking. The leader’s job is to be open minded and willing to encourage the creativity and innovation of others.
A thoughtful and well reasoned response, Claire
1. Effective communication
2. Self managing and self aware
3. Able to work in a team
4. Visionary
5. Empathetic
6. Accountable and responsible
7. Creative and innovative
I think communication fronts everything you do as an effective leader. Being self managing and self aware, I relate this to confidence as a common disposition for a leader (reading). My reasoning for having creative and innovative as 7 is because you would need the dispositions above established in a school setting and have the following and trust of the staff before acting creatively.
However, all of these things would be the ‘most’ important at different times as an effective leader.
Tess
Exactly right Tess, different times will call for different strengths and responses
Pretty hard to rank these leadership dispositions but I have given it a go below. They are certainly all important for effective leadership and leaders need to be able to lean into these more or less depending on the context they are in and the team they have around them. These characteristics are built through all daily interactions and can be continually developed.
1. Effective communicators
2. Self-managing and self-aware
3. Accountable and responsible
4. Visionary
5. Empathetic
6. Able to work in a team
7. Creative and innovative
You are right Peter, context is everything!
1.Self-managing and self-aware
2. Accountable and responsible
3. Able to work in a team
4. Effective communicators
5. Visionary
6. Empathetic
7. Creative and innovative
I consider self-management and self-awareness to be the most important qualities in my current role. Without these skills, my leadership would not be successful. They enable me to lead by example, handle stress, make sound decisions, build trust, and create a positive and productive teaching environment.
In the article “Mindsets, Dispositions, and Practices of Highly Effective School Leaders,” Dr. Bobby Moore emphasizes that self-awareness and self-management are crucial for school leaders. These qualities help navigate complex roles, foster a positive school environment, and lead teams effectively.
However I believe that all of these leadership dispositions are essential to being an effective leader.