Classifying Leadership Framework

 

Sharika Frater, Module 1, LEAD5383

Blog link: https://fratertalk.blogspot.com/2022/10/leadership-styles.html

Defining Leadership

    Teacher leadership is best seen as a process rather than a professional position (Silva, Gilbert, and Nolan, 2000). Therefore, those involved in the process should be viewed and dwelt with as such. Once stakeholders all play their part thereby leading to the ultimate success of the team or organization. All teachers are teacher leaders since they are game changers or effect changes in the lives of the families they serve. There are various types of leaders based on the roles thy need to play or the situation they are in. I truly admire the definition of leadership noted by a renowned leader herself where she stated, “Leadership is not about titles. It’s not about seniority. It is not about status, and it’s not about management. Leadership is about power and the ability to know when and how to use it to influence the people around you to do and become more!” – Terina R. Allen, President & CEO ARV is Institute. Within this assignment I will define leadership, outline three effective models or frameworks used by many teacher leaders. Next, there will be an outline of the advantages and disadvantages of these models and conclude with an analysis summary. All these are compacted in a blog that can be found using the link at the top of the first page of the assignment. 

Three Leadership Models

•   Servant Leadership.

Being a servant leader is a position in which the leader works assiduously to meet the needs of others, empowering them to succeed, which regularly improves job outcomes. This occurs because the leader motivates employees and so they support the leader who seemingly has their best interests at heart. It is a wonderful feeling as a team member to know that the leader is interested mostly in what they can do for others instead of what others can do for them. Crippen et al 2019)

•   Democratic Leadership

    This type of leader allows the people they serve to help make the decisions. It fosters a collaborative environment where all members or stakeholders have just about an equal share and their voice is valid.  Since all stakeholders are held accountable, so productivity is more engendered. Teachers as leaders can use a democratic leadership within the classroom so that all students can feel validated and contribute. Same is practical as teachers set classroom goals for their classroom. (Lee 2021)

•   Transformational Leadership

The transformational leadership has a leader that encourages all persons or team members to work inline with a common goal or vision. At the heart of this leadership is routine of good communication so that the ‘transformation’ can take place with each member as needed. The culture of transformation normally is transmitted down to the students and families so that they too can contribute to the success of the students and in extension the school. If there is no transformational model of leadership, schools would be stagnant and swiftly become irrelevant or fall behind other schools.  Transformational leadership generally seek out opportunities to mold or develop new leaders sometimes using a mentorship program is general in the organization when there is a transformational leader at the helm of the team. (Airiodion AGS. 2021)

Leadership Table

Leadership Type	Positives	Negatives
Servant leaders	- engender an unselfish role thus putting the interests of others first. - has the attributes that allow for a sense of democracy. -encourages better team buy in	- may be taken disadvantage of as others may start to expect more to be done for them. - take a lot of sacrifice and hard work. - may become exhausted or overwhelmed by responsibilities of serving others. -leader may get caught up in appeasing others than meeting objectives of the team.
Democratic leaders:	-allow the team to make decisions collaboratively. - has less workload since it is shared among team members - allow each person to feel valid. -seeks to fully utilize each person’s strengths and creativity for the greater good of the team or achieving goals. -encourages each team member to grow personally or professionally.	-making decisions can be more time consuming - may deter from making concerted decisions when needed in a bid to allow for collaboration. -
Transformational leaders   (This is the superior leadership style/model I choose)	-are intrinsically motivated -goal/task oriented -encourages growth and success for all team members. -visionaries	-may be a bit autocratic since there is no democratic guide - has a stronger team dependence on them. - misuse their power -may impose their own visions on team.

Summary Analysis (Conclusion)

As a teacher leader I have done much beyond the classroom to support both colleagues and students. One way I support students beyond the classroom by making myself available for assisting them with homework or any technical support to complete activities or practice core concepts at home. I regularly check in using the Class Dojo app to ensure that they are doing OK especially if a child or family member was ill, had baby or celebrated a special event. As often as I can, I attend student’s dance recital, games, or talent showcase. As for my colleagues, I check in with them and ensure that they or family members are OK if they were not well even sending cards or flowers. There was an occasion that a colleague was critically ill, and I organize a systematic support for her and the family for a whole year. Each month a different grade level would do something for them. Even though she sadly passed after a few months, we continued the support. After that support ended, I did my own to assist. I also congratulate and celebrate their accomplishments.

The most effective leadership model within my teacher leadership role is the transformational style. Transformational leadership works best for me because it has a leader that encourages all persons or team members to work in line with a common goal or vision. Meanwhile the goal is being attained, each member is encouraged to grow and change and make improvements as an individual or professional. Transformational leadership generally seek out opportunities to mold or develop new leaders sometimes using a mentorship program within the organization. For instance, as team chair, I assign each team member a different month to chair our weekly meeting. Also, each person is delegated with an active role for the meeting so they ca all contribute passively to the meeting, hewn or develop needed skills that can make them into effective leaders themselves within their classrooms and in any leadership role they may serve now or in the future. As a transformational leader, I work at the helm of the team. If I am absent, then ‘the show can go on’ since all is trained to lead. It is my core aim to mobilize all to action. (Airiodion AGS. 2021)

References

Airiodion AGS. (2021, January 27). Best guide for transformational leadership in education & schools. Retrieved August 28, 2022, from https://www.airiodion.com/transformational-leadership-in-education/ 

Allen Terina (2022) - developing strategic leaders who can take their careers & organizations to the next level. Terina Allen - Developing Strategic Leaders Who Can Take Their Careers & Organizations to the Next Level. (n.d.). Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://terinaallen.com/

Crippen, C., & Willows, J. (2019, March 31). Connecting teacher leadership and servant leadership: A synergistic partnership. Journal of Leadership Education. Retrieved August 28, 2022, from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1215095

Lee, E. (2021, December 7). Leadership styles. CPD Online College. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/business/different-leadership-styles/

Silva, D.Y., Gilbert, B., & Nolan, J. (2000). Sliding the Doors: Locking and Unlocking Possibilities                 for Teacher Leadership. Teacher College Record, 102, 779-804