“Ko ngā pae tawhiti whāia kia tata, ko ngā pae tata, whakamaua kia tina.”
The potential for tomorrow depends on what we do today.
One requisite of all successful leaders is self-awareness and a high emotional intelligence (EQ). To commence the Emerging National Leadership Programme, reflect on your practice before completing the Leadership Capabilities Assessment (LCA).
Module Objectives:
- Enhance self-awareness.
- Develop emotional intelligence.
- Identify personal strengths and areas for development.
- Understand the impact of personal emotions on leadership.
- Build self-reflection habits.
Section 1: Leadership Capabilities Assessment Reflection
Task: Open the provided Google Document, make a copy, and reflect on each element of the Leadership Capabilities Assessment. Indicate your perceived level on the continuum and add notes in the ‘Term 1’ column to explain your thinking. Share this document with your kaiārahi.
Task: Due 28th March 9am
What leadership capabilities would you describe as requisites for you to be most effective in your current leadership context – and why? Share your answer in the comments section below (150 words max.)
Resources:
- 21 Century Leadership (The Innovator DNA): https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=Hy4oQh_Qyto&feature=emb_logo
- The Educational Leadership Capability Framework (2018): https://teachingcouncil.nz/assets/Files/Leadership-Strategy/Leadership_Capability_Framework.pdf
- “School Leadership and Student Outcomes: Identifying What Works and Why: Best Evidence Synthesis Iteration [BES]”: https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/60180/BES-Leadership-Web-updated-foreword-2015.pdf#page=38 (Executive summary on pages 35-47)
- “Leading From the Middle: Educational Leadership for Middle and Senior Leaders”: https://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Leadership-development/Key-leadership-documents/Leading-from-the-middle (Skim for now – more focus in Module 2)
Assessment:
- Completion of the Leadership Capabilities Assessment reflection document.
- Thoughtful contribution to the online discussion regarding key leadership capabilities.
8 Responses
When I look at leadership capabilities there are two that I feel stand out when it comes to working within a Special Needs setting.
These are:
Flexibility: Every day is a new day which can bring with it new challenges, surprises and excitement. Being able to roll with what the days throws at you, think on the spot and retain composure throughout is very important.
Being able to look at things through a holistic lens. You do not have all the answers, you are not always right and neither are those we work with. Being able to take a situation whether it is good, bad or ugly and look at every avenue. If we are all here for the students then working through an outcome that is best for them is what is important. By taking the time to brainstorm and talk through things with others opens the doors for a stronger working relationship.
You work in a particularly challenging setting Jade and I can imagine that your flexible approach stands you in good stead. You’ve also displayed flexibility in your willingness to adapt to different settings within your school from challenging behaviour class to new entrants – quite a mind shift. You also approach your work with humility and an open mind. Well done!
Being new to leadership and having a unit within my school, I’m focused on building trust through open communication, listening, and following through on what I say. Strong relationships make teamwork and growth possible. Clear and honest communication is important to me, I want people to feel heard and valued. I also try to be adaptable and see challenges as chances to learn and improve. Connecting with the wider community and whānau is just as important. Strong partnerships help create a sense of belonging and make learning more meaningful. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I’m committed to reflecting, improving, and creating a positive, supportive space for everyone.
You have got great ideas Lauren and are setting yourself some worthwhile goals. There’s a lot to think about when you first step into leadership but all of the attributes that make you a great teacher will transfer over to your leadership journey.
For me, I feel that I continue to maintain high-trust relationships with my colleagues and school whānau. I have not had the opportunity to lead within my school but I am courageous when it comes to having a respectful but hard conversation. Ensuring that mana and manaakitanga is at the forefront when engaging in kōrero, whakaaro and tautoko.
You are right Lisa. Trust is important but we must prove ourselves to be worthy of trust. It is sometimes difficult to maintain those high standards when others don’t share our ethical standards. Good on you for being brave!
I feel that while I want to develop many of the capabilities, it is hard to comment on them as I am mainly a classroom teacher and do not yet have a leadership role within my kura.
I do feel that building and sustaining high-trust relationships is a requisite for me, even as a classroom teacher. This is something I have included in my PGC as a focus. I believe that much of being a leader or a classroom teacher involves engaging respectfully with others, with empathy and humility, and fostering openness in discussions.
This goes hand in hand with managing conflict and crisis. Building on high-trust relationships, I feel it is important to handle conflict and crises gracefully, ensuring an environment of trust and respect for all concerned parties.
You are thinking so carefully about your role as a leader in your classroom and the role modelling that goes along with it. All of this is a practice for when it is teachers that you are leading. When I was a Principal I always thought of myself as the teachers’ form teacher because it needed exactly the same skills.