Inside the Staffroom
4 Tips to land your first Instructional Leadership & Management role
By Chassie Selouane
According to researchers Bell & Smith , “ educational leaders come in more varieties than crayons in the deluxe box .”
This suggests that there is not a single set of qualities to be found in all leaders , all the time . As a result of this , effective instructional leadership can vary depending on each unique situation . Nevertheless , many of us will agree that the most effective leaders usually put instruction first and strive to build positive relationships with their staff .
Below are a few tips that may be helpful for you to land your first role as an instructional leader / education manager .
Build strong relationships : Stephen Covey states , “ Real leadership power comes from an honorable character and from certain power tools and principles . If you want to be recognized as a leader you should start cultivating relations built on dependability , reliability , respect and trust .” This may seem like a basic tip , but it demonstrates good work ethic when you are punctual and courteous to other co-workers . Avoid staffroom gossip and focus on being trustworthy . Approach your tasks with
a positive attitude and a build a vision that others can get behind .
Attitude is contagious : The laws of physics help to explain this tip . Positive energy essentially works as a magnet and attracts more positive energy . Be aware of the effect of your own energy . Focus on understanding how to spread and direct positive energy to neutralize or overpower negative energy . Focus on positive behaviors and build others up with praise and support . Help others see their true potential . Always try to have an upbeat attitude , and as Covey suggests , “ seek to believe in unseen potential .” Positive energy can be a catalyst for change . It can motivate and encourage others .
Volunteer : Ask your principal or vice principal for opportunities to share best practices with your colleagues . One of the absolute best ways to show that you ' re ready for a leadership role is to find small ways to manage people or projects . Offer to help plan a professional learning session or volunteer with co-workers to put on a school or after-school event , or perhaps sponsor a school club . It may seem like a large investment of time , but this is the perfect opportunity to practice and build your management skills . As you take on more responsibility , and follow through with successful results , you ’ ll prove that you ’ re committed to the growth and development of your team , and will do what it takes to get things done . Most importantly , you ’ ll start being viewed as a team leader and your management potential will shine through .
Be a life long learner : Effective leaders may not know everything . However , they read , take classes , listen to others , seek training and consistently seek to improve their circle of knowledge and mastery . Leaders who are dedicated to developing their knowledge will quickly discover that their competency in an area can quickly become expertise . She / he starts to discover new interests and skills to master . Once you have mastered new skills , offer to share them with your colleagues .
Taking on a management role is never easy . There will be ups and downs , but all the best journeys are full of adventures . The following are a few authors that can help you , as you begin your journey to leadership : Stephen Covey , Todd Whitaker , Michael Fullan , John Adair and Tommy Weir .
36 | Mar - Apr 2017 | | Class Time