Effective Leadership - 3 Weeks In

Note: This reflection is being done without reviewing any of the texts we have been exposed to. Relying solely on what I have retained to complete this reflection is a true testament to what I have learned. This is a process I need to complete for my own reflection purposes.

The most eye-opening notion that these first three weeks of the Effective Leadership course has been that being a truly effective leader is no small task. Being an effective leader encompasses a true sense of self, mission, vision, and dedication. I have been able to identify the various types of leaders/administrators I have been exposed to, both effective and ineffective.

Many of the concepts and theorists studied have shaped my view and understanding of what an effective leader is or should be. Comparing and contrasting both stewardship and servant leadership within a learning organization has brought to my attention that an effective leader must be a little of both. We must be systematic while still focusing on the factors outside the school building that impact student achievement. The 21 responsibilities outlined by Marzano proves how multi-faceted we as leaders must be. Deming and Covey illustrate the importance of being positive and, in a sense, wholistic. It was Bass and Avolio that illustrated four key characteristics I believe a successful principal must possess. These characteristics were specific enough to laser in, but also broad enough to incorporate much of what many of the other theorist spoke of. Individual Consideration, Intellectual Stimulation, Inspirational Motivation, and Idealized Influence grouped with a Shared Vision is great composition for a budding principal to start with. Deming and Covey also allude to the job never being done. We must be in it for the long haul, and truly buying in to that shared vision will bring that to the forefront.

One of the major points that resonates with me is that with all the successes many principals and leaders have had over the years, many of them did things differently. This proves that there are many road maps that can lead to being an effective leader. What challenges our effectiveness is whether or not we stay the course. There are many distractors that pull on our values, beliefs, emotions, and consciousnesses that we must be steadfast. Our missions in life are of great value and should be treated as such, at all times.

We must lead by example.