As an educational leader, having a clear understanding of what leadership is, and sharing that vision with the staff, allows everyone to have a set of guidelines to follow on the journey to creating a positive learning environment where each need is met, every idea is heard and all strategies are considered.Ensuring that this environment is able to move progressively forward requires a leader that understands the excellence and expertise in each one of the contributors to the learning culture.Gearing activities and projects toward those who have demonstrated their expertise requires the leader to pay close attention to detail and challenge the team to try new and innovative ways of handling everyday situations.
Once the leader has identified the key components in team members, he or she must then find a champion of the project to assist with facilitating and motivating the team or subcommittee to continue to move forward at an attainable goal.Creating the position of champion necessitates an investigation of who on the team shows the most investment in the project rather than the most enthusiasm.These champions must then be trained to facilitate much like the leader, accepting roadblocks yet finding solutions for moving past them.
The next step for the leader to accomplish is finding ways to collaborate or intertwine the members of the school leadership to outside organizations that share the same enthusiasm in the project.With investment from the community, the school will better utilize its resources, and uncover others that maybe a perfect fit to completion of the project.Additionally, demonstrating the spirit of collaboration provides a clear example of how the leaders believe that everyone contributes something to the well being and betterment of the community of learning.
Finally, a crucial best practice that must be followed by an educational leader, is the ability to celebrate successes and constructively dissect and renew failures.In the education field, celebrating excellence is more than just handling an award to an individual, it is recognition of ideas and methods privately and publicly that look to change the way of education for the better.Peer reviews and community spotlights help to boost morale and provide a forum where all ideas are heard.This component eliminates fear of judgment to new professionals, and solidifies the strength of educational experience for teaching experts.
When considering all of the methods of an exemplary educational leader, one must be ready to receive criticism as constructive, and opposition as an opportunity for resolving problems in collaboration.A strong leader understands these principles and uses them in creative ways to move the entire group forward.Recognizing that change takes time, and the failure is a necessity to ensure prolonged advancement.The educational leader has a full job to do that requires him or her to take on several roles.However, when the while team creates a project that advances the state of the students, school and community, they can proudly say that they were able to be a part of something great, that will impact many.