21 st Century Leadership Educational Disadvantage – A focus on School Leadership

DEIS PROGRAMME promises…… “Professional development for principals including programmes supporting the development of skills in the areas of strategic leadership and change management, with the assistance of LDS” “Integrated services: to enhance integration and partnership working both within the education sector itself and between the DES &…..” 21st Century Leadership

DEIS SCHOOLS 197 Urban Band-1 Primary schools 141 Urban Band-2 Schools 333 Rural Schools 204 Post Primary Schools in the DEIS Programme: DAS & VEC 21st Century Leadership

THE DEIS LANDSCAPE BARREN ISOLATION RESENTMENT OVERWHELMED RESISTENCE FRENETIC INTENSITY JOY & MORAL IMPERATIVE 21st Century Leadership

WHAT IS CULTURE? “A pattern of basic assumptions – invented, discovered, or developed by a given group as it learns to cope with problems…. that has worked well enough to be considered valid and, therefore, to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think, and feel in relation to those problems” (Schein, 1985) Highly relevant in a DEIS school 21st Century Leadership

MAKE OR BREAK “Culture is, in part, a learned defence mechanism to avoid uncertainty and anxiety” (Schein, 2001) "It can be argued that the only thing of real importance that leaders do is create and manage cultures; that the unique talent of leaders is their ability to understand and work with culture; and that it is an ultimate act of leadership to destroy culture when it is viewed as dysfunctional." (Schein, 2004) 21st Century Leadership

Building & Maintaining Culture Deliberate role modelling, teaching, and coaching How leaders allocate rewards and status How leaders allocate resources How leaders recruit, select, promote, & ‘excommunicate What leaders pay attention to How leaders react to critical incidents and organisational crises

LEADER Visionary Symbol Anthropological sleuth Potter Poet Historian Healer Actor Deal & Peterson, 1999

School Leadership Leadership is about giving direction, offering inspiration, building teamwork. It is derived from one’s fundamental values and personal style. Leadership is about finding and deciding which path to take, about building and maintaining an organisational culture 21st Century Leadership

LEADERSHIP Leadership is like beauty: it’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it… Influencing others’ actions to achieve desirable goals INVOLVES THE WISE USE OF POWER 21st Century Leadership

LEADER AS LION  CLEAR PERSONAL VISION  EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE  STRONG AND TENACIOUS  COMMUNICATES FORCEFULLY  AMASSES POWER  TAKES CHARGE & SOLVES PROBLEMS 21st Century Leadership

LEADER AS LAMB  DEVELOPS A SHARED VISION  ASKS QUESTIONS  COPES WITH WEAKNESS  LISTENS AND ACKNOWLEDGES  DEPENDS ON OTHERS  LETS GO 21st Century Leadership

Empowerment The reverse of power wielding Allows expression to the creative and service aspects of leadership Skills and ability are more important than status Involves people in building a positive culture Leaders throughout the organisation The sharing of power 21st Century Leadership

MEMBERS OF ANY GROUP Need to  Feel important  Feel valued & appreciated  Know that they matter  Know that they make a difference  Have a sense of significance 21st Century Leadership

Affirmations Positive Present tense Specific Personal Emotionally charged - the difference that makes the difference 21st Century Leadership

ENCOURAGING COLLABORATION “If we follow principles (symbolised by a compass) that always point north, we gradually develop moral authority; people trust us, and if we truly respect them, see their worth and potential, and involve them, we can come to share a common vision” Stephen Covey: The 8 th Habit 21st Century Leadership

POSITIVE CULTURE  LEADERSHIP PERMEATES  SUCCESS IS CELEBRATED AND RECOGNISED  HONESTY, OPENESS ARE EVIDENT  EXTERNAL INVOLVEMENT  PARTICIPATION IS ENCOURAGED  OPEN TO CHANGE  TAKES RISKS  SOCIALISATION 21st Century Leadership

NEGATIVE CULTURES

The woodpeckers have to be dealt with! 21st Century Leadership

Creating a positive school culture TO BE A LAMB IS REALLY TO BE A LION 21st Century Leadership

Grant me the serenity… and the wisdom to know the difference. to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; 21st Century Leadership