The Qualities of the Most Effective Leaders

The Qualities of the Best Leaders

The best leaders are those that start with the clear, explicit assumption that no one is setting out to do a bad job, and if further support is needed, it is their responsibility to fulfil that duty.

Leaders are there to 'serve'

Evelyn Forde outlines the idea that the senior leadership team at Copthall School are there ‘to serve’ the staff. It is this act of looking inwards, and with thoughtful reflection before moving forward, that makes leadership effective.

Goodwill and appreciation

These leaders recognise the importance of goodwill loading and the difference between appreciation and expectation; they understand that goodwill is essential to running a school, where the pressures of workload differ dramatically from one month to the next, according to the demands of the calendar.
They pre-emptively thank those going the extra mile and don’t see it as just part and parcel of teaching. They thank with gifts of time and recognition.

Using correct language

They know that just by using the correct language with individuals and being genuinely thankful in advance (as opposed to enforcing and operating with assumption and authority), better work will take place.
Trust is gained through explicit use of agenda and agenda-setting with trust of staff capability is the preference over micromanagement.

Understanding time & space

Effective leaders understand the need for time and space to complete good work, so will use accountability as a conversation to understand the issues at hand, rather than as a weapon of blame.
They hold people to deadlines because they have faith in the work that these people do, but are receptive to discourse and narrative over binary processes and ultimatums that threaten the withdrawal of autonomy. They follow a few key mantras, and work to simplify.

Key Qualities of Effective Leaders

The most effective leaders show gratitude, humility and bring the best to the table.

Qualities of effective leaders

Effective leaders make people feel like they have a voice. Their door is always open, they make time to listen.
Conversations are on a level playing field: the opinions of senior members of staff, caretakers, the technicians, and those of the staff in reprographics are equally valued.
Every member of staff is thanked at the end of the school year, in no particular order, because hierarchy does not play a role in the system.

Key to empowering others

Keeping to commitments, remembering that the primary role of a position in management is to support, and recognising the promises being made to people are the three most valuable elements of empowering others, and ultimately keeping them in a school.
Being listened to, provided with responsibility and trust to run projects, and engagement in leadership activities all lead to a stronger sense of empowerment within your own role in a school.

Showing humility

Effective leaders are vulnerable in their thanks and show their vulnerability by demonstrating that they don’t know everything.
They’re leaders because they look at the landscape and consider who the best people are to join with them to make change. They understand that this is impossible as a solitary exercise, and explicitly share this with their staff.
They understand the humanity of good leadership and that not all success can provide a measurement outcome.

Humans first, employees second

The wider implications of what Mary Myatt calls ‘feeding the well’ repay a school system tenfold; treating people like human beings first and employees second will always reap rewards.

Role models

Effective leaders comprehend that they are in a position of great responsibility when it comes to inspiring others. Leaders in schools are role models both with what they do say and with what they choose not to say. Brilliant leaders understand the gravity of timing and the giving of time to attend to the important conversations.
They are also exemplary when outlining what to work towards; they provide the template to future leaders for how to lead.

Actionable advice on leadership

Trust your staff and share that you have complete faith that they will achieve great things as a result of their expertise.
Remove hierarchical structures that threaten to break down honest exchanges between staff and leaders.
Recognise humility as a key strength for shaping future leaders.

1Conversation & Connection

1.1Email

1.1.1Physiological Impact of Email

1.1.2Appropriate Use of Email

1.2WhatsApp

1.2.1Damaging Impacts & Advice for WhatsApp

1.3Praise & Thank-Yous

1.3.1Giving Less Praise, Better

2Being Human: Effective Relationships in Schools

2.1Dealing with Colleagues, Roles & Resolution

2.1.1Choose Your Crowd

2.1.2Changing Hats

2.1.3Resolution & Compassion

2.2Creating Professional Safety Nets

2.2.1Create Something to Belong To

2.3Educational Leaders

2.3.1Problems with Leadership in Schools

2.3.2The Qualities of the Most Effective Leaders

2.4Connections in the Classroom: Student Systems

2.4.1Behavioural Systems

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