Leadership Style - Misconceptions & Advice
CPD: Leadership for Teachers (by Sam Strickland), topic 2.1.2
Common Misconception About Leadership Style
A common misconception is that you have to change your leadership style on a regular basis, according to a situation.
Problem - this causes confusion
- The list of traits and characteristics that make a strong leader is almost endless.
- Adopting and adapting a particular leadership style for any one given particular situation can cause confusion regarding the type of leader that you are.
Support - John Dunford (2011)
- ‘Good leaders do not have a single leadership style. You adapt to suit the situation. The appropriate leadership style to develop a new school policy on teaching and learning is very different from the style adopted when the fire alarm goes off.’
Problems with changing style
- Be wary when adopting a different leadership persona.
- By changing your leadership style, you will be changing your demeanour, manner and how you come across to others.
Overall advice
- Ultimately, you need to be true to yourself, your personality, your strengths and areas to develop.
- Leadership style surveys are probably as useful as learning style surveys.
Test yourself on Leadership Style - Misconceptions & Advice
What is a common misconception about leadership style?
What should you be wary of when adopting a different leadership persona?