Schools need to embrace transformational leadership

THE EDITOR, Madam:

It is important that more principals move away form traditional leadership of bureaucratic and autocratic styles to become transformational leaders if they are to improve their schools’ performance and to make the journey of the 2030 vision of accessing quality education a reality.

Moreover, engaging in transformational leadership will address underperformance in schools and allow principals an opportunity to focus on inspiration with a vision shifting from current challenges to future possibilities in which they can motivate teachers and students at the highest level, increased job satisfaction and promote stronger team performance. However, many of our principals’ lack communication skills and the ability to connect to their teachers which has hinder exceptional growth and adaptability some have used their bureaucratic leadership focusing on following rules rather than seeking innovative solutions which have limit their performance in a fast-changing environment and preventing innovation.

Additionally, transformational leadership will create promote intellectual stimulation in which principals can encourage critical thinking and problem solving in schools by supporting educators to become innovative in teaching strategies, using new approaches to foster student learning. Principals set in their bureaucratic leadership have found themselves conform to too much rigid rules and procedures thus preventing creativity and independent thinking isolating others from decision making and giving new ideas.

As an educator for over 35 years I have seen principals not understanding their school culture which have contributed to decreased teacher morale, lack of collaboration, high teacher turnover and a negative learning environment. Having transformation leadership style will contribute to a positive and cohesive school culture that will promote shared values, open communication assisting schools to navigate challenges with resilience and unity, over time this will eventually create an environment in which teachers, staff and students are inspired to work effectively leading to success.

Further, transformational leadership style provides the platform for successful professional development meetings with opportunities for skills improvement and new teaching methodologies which will equipped teachers and empower them to become effective in their job. Principals need to elevate teachers rather than criticise teachers’ weakness and demotivate them in these professional development meetings which is a turn off for many teachers.

ANDREA O’CONNOR

awrightoconnor@hotmail.

com