Personal Reflection on Leadership Development - Essay Example

? Personal Reflection on Leadership Development Personal Reflection on Leadership Development I am pursuing a in Developing Potential Seminar majoring in Human Development and Management. I am aspiring to become a school principal in future. It is important to note that, being a school principal in either a public or private school necessitates one to possess good qualities and a strong personality. In doing so, it is of significance for me to ensure that I develop a strong personality or character early enough. Studies conducted in the past have elucidated the fact that human behavior is learned. Therefore, to acquire a strong personality and as well acquire skills and knowledge that would help me in achieving my goal of managing a school as a principal requires a lot of practice. This paper is a personal reflection on my leadership development. Transformational leadership theory application To manage a school successfully and effectively, I will be required to have strong leadership skills. Therefore adopting a transformational leadership style will be necessary. As a principal in a school, adopting a transformational leadership style means that I will have the ability to effectively control state of affairs and various circumstances that avail themselves within the school. According to Marshall (2010): Transformational leadership is a style in which the leader identifies the needed change, creates a vision to guide the change through inspiration, and executes the change with the commitment of other. Transformational leadership taps into the emotional and spiritual resources of an organization. It is a process of developing the leadership capacity of an entire team. Transformational leaders inspire others to achieve what might be considered extraordinary results. (3) Leadership qualities may be acquired through learning. This is the reason why I chose a course that is associated with leadership development. I discovered early enough that through learning, I will achieve the skills and abilities to incorporate and utilize what I am learning in my day to day practice as a school principal. I believe through hardwork and determination I will be able to achieve and gain appropriate skills and knowledge. In addition, I have travelled far and wide to various schools in the US. In my trips, I have been able to associate myself face to face with principals in a number of schools and subsequently I have built a social network with them. Many of these principles act as my mentors. Through their mentoring and advice, I have been able to acquaint myself with practical knowledge and first hand experiences in managing a school. This is a clear indication that my course in human development and leadership has been offering a platform that I will use as a springboard to accomplish my goals in life. There are various hurdles faced my many principals in schools today. As an aspiring school principal, I will have to identify my outstanding qualities and attributes and direct them towards management and leadership practices as transformational leadership requires. How a school principle will manage a school will highly depend on his/her individual attributes. For instance, my ability to communicate clearly will ensure that both the learners and teachers grasp and comprehend any information and facts I will be relaying to them. This will necessitate me, as the principal of that particular school to adapt an appropriate leadership method or technique. A good and effective leadership technique such as a transformational leadership style puts into consideration the needs and requirements or each and every stakeholder involved in the learning process. In this case, it will be important for me to familiarize myself with each and every teacher within the school as this would be helpful in planning and implementing strategies. Through successfully and effectively completing this course, I will have gained the necessary skills and knowledge that will enable me to adapt a transformational leadership style. One of the most important and significant thing that I have learnt so far in this course is the importance of optimizing human capital. Human beings are driven by certain factors to achieve their goals. This fact can be extrapolated into my case. Teachers are driven by a number of factors in teaching practice. Each and every teacher has his/her own needs and requirements. Some teachers are too ambitious and will do anything to climb up the ladder and displace the principal or other individuals in positions of leadership within the school. Others are driven by the need to see their students succeed, become better individuals in life, and hence contribute positively to the development of the community. A transformational leader has the capacity to bring these teachers together as a team regardless of what is driving them. First strategy Development of leadership strategies is a critical issue in managing a school effectively as a principal. One of the development strategy that will support me as a school principle is ensuring regular training. This strategy can best be elucidated using an example. Things are changing very fast in the modern world as a result of advancements in technology. This has seen the incorporation of computers in the learning process. A large percentage of teachers acquired their teaching degrees and diplomas at a time when conventional methods of learning were used. As a consequence, they lack appropriate skills in modern technology to teach learners in the contemporary world. As a principal, it will therefore be important to encourage and as well ensure regular training programs for teachers are undertaken so as to acquaint them with relevant knowledge and skills. In the long run, this will ensure teachers are motivated and have the drive to accomplish their objectives in teaching, and in doing so, they will be achieving their goals. This portrays how a transformational leader is able to encourage those under him/her in their endeavors. Second strategy Secondly, appointing departmental leaders within the school will be important in supporting and enhancing my leadership strategies. Every school has different departments. For instance there may be a science department, business department, and mathematics department. As a principal, it might be very difficult to supervise all teachers in their activities and as well ensure the institutional objectives of the school are achieved based on the fact that as the head of the school I might be caught up in other school-related duties such as meetings and seminars. Therefore, ensuring each and every department is headed by an individual will help close this gap in leadership. These heads of departments will have a group of teachers to head and supervise. Effective supervision in the school will ensure order in the learning process as these heads of departments will be required to submit regular reports on the happenings in their departments. Rewarding departments that perform well will ensure motivation. Third strategy Thirdly, motivation as a strategy in leadership would be important. Based on the definition of transformational leadership that I have comprehended in this course, as the principal of a school, it would be important to ensure motivation is ensured in all aspects of the school activities. There are various ways that I can use to ensure both teachers and learners are motivated. Giving rewards and incentives to teachers and learners on the basis of their excellence in teaching and learning respectively is important to boost their morale. Subsequently, punishment for poor performers is also important to ensure teachers and learners who perform poorly are motivated to work hard and avoid such embarrassments in future. Rewarding best performers may be in form of pay rise, giving gifts, and also giving other privileges. Studies done in the past have shown that motivated teachers and learners perform well. Motivation also encourages adoption of good individual characteristics. As a transformational leader, I will be able to involve and engage all the stakeholders in all the day to day learning of the school including in decision making. Involving all teachers and other stakeholders in formulating strategies and plans of action geared towards accomplishing the vision, mission, and goals of the learning process ensures that each and every individual understands and comprehends his/her roles. This reduces or lessens the probability of conflicts arising among the stakeholders. Conclusion Success of various strategies geared towards enhancing the learning process is dependent on the school leadership. A leader can adapt and embrace a type of leadership style that ensures motivations, encourages communication, and gives a chance for career development for teachers as well as other stakeholders in the learning process. Motivating teachers and learners, ensuring supervision and regular trainings for teachers is important in ensuring the success of learning process. As a school principal, it would be vital to incorporate a transformational type of leadership. Transformational leaders motivate and encourage teachers and learners to achieve the goals and objectives. They are also able to ensure the involvement and participation of all stakeholders in all the daily activities in the learning process. Reference Marshall, E. (2010). Transformational Leadership in Nursing: From Expert Clinical to Influential Leader. New York, USA: Springer. Read More