Being an Effective Leader: a Teacher as a Role Model

People who have been through the educational system often come across a single individual who inspired them in their past with the ability to mould, better and transform them to make the right and positive choices. More than often this is a member of staff from their school either from the teachers or out of the classroom staff members. This teacher as a role model essay will examine how teachers can become an effective leaders. 

A teacher who guides students towards success and has genuine conviction in each of their students. When equipped with the right characteristics adopted from the transformational leadership theory, students begin to believe that they have the power to excel. It is key to have an institute, which does not only suffice off competence and just being ‘up to standards’, but rather strive in order to achieve excellence. All staff members should strive to be transformational leaders, as Bernard M. Bass and Bruce J. Avolio, who are two pioneering voices in transformational leadership theory, define such leaders as people who mentor and encourage both colleagues and students. It has been demonstrated to be a imperative component leading schools to become high performance with the correct and productive use of transformational leader ship skills.

Multiple analysis studies have demonstrated that transformational leaders do not only contain educational benefits but subsequently also having a positive impact on ensuring that disciplinary problems among students are addressed effectively.

Survey data from an achieved sample of 1762 teachers and 9941 students in one large school district were used to explore the relative effects of transformational leadership practices on selected organizational conditions and student engagement with school. Results demonstrated strong significant effects of such leadership on organizational conditions, and moderate but still significant total effects on student engagement

There are multiple of qualities and forces to be an effective transformational leader such as, technical, human, educational, symbolic and cultural force which is mentioned by Thomas J Sergiovanni. It has to be made clear that there is a fine line between being a transactional leader and being a transformational leader. A transactional leader merely gets done what is required of them. However, a transformational leader strives and works towards developing those who follow them. There is no unanimous opinion in regards to the most effective and fundamental attributes. However, the most commonly agreed upon and useful are that most commonly known as the “Four I’s”.

Idelised Influence 

To behave in a manner in and out of the classroom which the students trust and also have respect for their teacher. Resulting in them looking up to a teacher as a role model wanting to emulate and reflect the same behaviour. Demonstrate immaculate moral conduct in both rewarding as well as reprimanding a student subject to their performance and work ethic in the class room. Displaying consistency rather then arbitrary behaviour will show that the teacher is invested in their future rather than personal gain.

Idealised influence is not the students just blindly imitating their teacher, rather to use their teachers as a reference point. Students will look at their teachers working towards their own goals and observe how they execute the right amount of effort. There are three steps in order to inculcate idealised influence. Firstly, you need to have your own vision and to share that vision with those who follow you. Once the aspiration of excellence is shared you need to then inspire the students to share that vision and to make it a part of their own objective. The end goal should be to influence students by the teachers own ideals, cognitions and actions to make your students better themselves in the school.

Inspirational Motivation

Create an environment that envelopes the students on a regular basis where in team work, optimism and enthusiasm is perpetuated. Allowing opportunities where visions of their future dreams are shared and made a mutual agenda. This will not only stimulate them but also add meaning to their lessons knowing that they have the teachers full support. Repeating this process will also bridge any communication barriers about your expectations from your students with in the classroom.

A teacher who keeps a two-way conversation that is clear with his or her students allows the teacher to be aware of the strengths of each individual. Therefore they can tailor activities that are suitable to their strengths as well as work on their weaknesses.

A teacher who strives to become a successful transformational leader does not only be aware of that which occurs in their classrooms, but to expand their vision as to how their relationships with other staff members impact the students conduct and effort. Colleagues should devote to the success of their peers who also share a mutual vision and end goal of empowering young minds and investing in our future society. The true essence of transformational leadership is employee commitment as this will open all the doors to the entire school goals as well as remove any hurdles that may become a hindrance or barrier in achieving excellence.

Intellectual Stimulation

Teachers being a significant part of the educational setting, it also comes hand in hand with many emotional challenges. When being in a situation where emotions are erratic it is crucial to demonstrate coherent behaviour in order to harness those emotions to avoid conflict and to plant firmly the seeds of growth. In order to kindle the fire of education in their hearts and achieve maximum benefit, it is key to constantly update and create more contemporary examples. Being inventive and brain candy for the students will not only attain but also retain their attention, concentration and focus for much longer. Encourage students to also be innovative and creative, but are not to be criticized by the teacher even if it may be contrary to their own ideas and ways.

It is mutually agreed upon amongst educators that learning and teaching coincide with one another. Transformational leader will have a higher rate of influence on their students when they themselves analyse and work toward personal development. In order to keep the students actively engaged teachers should use their enthusiasm for self-growth to be a line of best fit to be matched by their students as well as a support mechanism to be tenacious. Resulting in students wanting to come to their school, educate and better themselves by their own accord.

Individualized Consideration

A transformation leader should behave as a mentor by taking due attention to a students each and every possible needs for accomplishment and progression. This can be achieved by tailoring interaction with each student treating them as a whole person rather than just a student in the classroom. Exhibit effective listening skills to allow them to understand that you have accepted their different requirements and you support them.

To progress further more, delegate certain responsibilities to them so you can examine and identify their progress and also highlight areas in which you can provide assistance and guidance. Scheduled one to one sessions with students although may seem difficult with such a large setting, however it is this very personalized contact which will set an effective setting for transformational leadership to thrive. Once the initial stages have past and a relationship is built between the student and teacher, to keep track and improve it with creative means becomes straightforward and simple.

On close analysis and appraisal of the transformational leadership, the impact of transformational leadership in schools and how transformational leadership can be achieved by teachers. We learn that the most important factor is the teacher themselves as individuals. A teacher who is also a under going the journey and tutelage of life, putting in the effort to reach excellence has more of an opportunity to shape and invest in what will the be the future of our society. When a student realises that education is not only with in the confinements of a classroom or educational setting, they appreciate that the effort on their behalf needs to be reciprocated.

Conclusion

Once a teacher has created a clear image of their expectations and share the same aspirations with the students, they need to provide support and guidance using the transformational leadership theory. Being an effecting leader is not how many followers is not just setting rules and regulations in place which need to be adhered to, rather it is to be effective and efficient in time being spent in order reach the mutually agreed goal and target, excellence.