What is the Recipe for Outstanding School Leadership?

Outstanding School Leadership – The Secret Recipe?

Outstanding school leadership cannot be reduced to a simple formula. Yet after years of working with international schools, certain patterns recur.

This list is just an opinion. However, I think it is well-informed, based on the influence of coaches and mentors over a long international career. (Greg Parry)

Outstanding School Leaders are Comfortable in Their Own Skin

I am not sure if there is a better way to put it. Leaders don’t need to be perfect, but they must have far fewer vulnerabilities, insecurities and character flaws than their peers. They need to be confident enough to answer questions honestly and with authenticity. They must be balanced. Able to accept criticism. The ego must be under control. Not obsessed about power. No personality disorders. They have most likely read “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” and they live it, or their behaviour espouses these values. Time and time again, we find that the essential set of skills, knowledge and expertise to be a senior educational leader is nowhere near as important as having a person who is just balanced, authentic, loyal, trustworthy, and of good character. Leaders should not be broken personally or use their power to satisfy their own needs. So many leaders appear strong but they are insecure. They need to be good people. Most often my advice to aspiring leaders is to “work on yourself.”

Outstanding Leaders Master Teaching and Learning

Can you imagine a restaurant manager telling an Italian head chef how to cook better pasta sauce? Sadly, we see it far too often. A Head of School or Principal must have a track record, early in their career, of being very good in the fields of curriculum and teaching and learning. They must have demonstrated exceptional expertise in making a difference with student achievement. IGCSE, A Levels, IB is not just about exams, examination procedures, what subjects are on offer, structures, systems and procedures. Leaders need to understand the philosophy and background that sits behind these curriculum delivery models. How do you structure learning through scaffolding? Can you advise teachers on “beginning with the end in mind?” How do you teach in ways that develop critical thinking? Can you infuse literacy into all content areas? Education leaders need to be the curriculum and pedagogical leaders of the school. Can you talk the talk because you have walked the walk?

Outstanding Leaders Think Systemically

It is so easy to take shortcuts and make assumptions based on only part of the information. As leaders, we should know that sometimes the information provided to us may not be balanced. It may even be from a very limited perspective. We need to seek out the complete picture. We should use data and seek out broad, comprehensive evidence to ensure our actions and decisions are the right ones. “He said, “She said, is not good enough. We should have comprehensive systems that help us make data-based decisions. We should use our networks and insights to gather information from multiple credible sources. Things are not always as they seem. We need to move forward with confidence and be able to back up our reasons. Outstanding school leadership is driven by information and evidence.

They Lead Democracy, Consultation and Buy-In

It is essential that we do not operate as autocratic leaders. We must discuss, seek input, consult and develop buy-in on important decisions. It is very possible that you might be the most experienced, skilled, insightful, and competent in some areas, but not in all. Great leaders surround themselves with good people. You don’t need to be right. You need to make the right decisions and achieve the right outcomes. People do not value autocrats who dish out commands. Share ownership and build a team committed to a common vision. Are your meetings truly collaborative, or could that forum be just as easily conducted by email? Are you listening? Are you working with a team of people you acknowledge may be better informed and more insightful than you about some key areas? Outstanding school leadership should be reflected in outstanding collaboration, consultation, and connectedness.

Delegation – Outstanding leaders know what it really means

I prefer the term devolution because leaders too often misunderstand the definition of delegation. It is not about assigning tasks to other people when you could easily have done them yourself. Don’t be the “King” or “Queen” throwing out token tasks. Develop leaders through empowerment. If your potential leaders need a job list then either they are not truly leaders or you are not creating a leadership culture. Have you ever been in a meeting and somehow at the end, you realised all tasks were taken up by volunteers, the energy was electric, and people felt even more motivated than when the meeting began? Or are people wishing the conversations will end? In a really good culture of devolved leadership, tasks get taken up through the energy created. Rarely do outstanding leaders assign an endless list of tasks.

Outstanding Leaders are systems-oriented

As the leader of a school, you need to be more in charge of systems than people. You are responsible for ensuring that agreed-upon policies, systems and procedures achieve exceptional results. That includes a school culture that values input, out-of-the-box thinking and sometimes less-traditional thinking. You have the right to require a certain standard, but you don’t always have the right to tell people “how” to do something. Depending on the key area, they are very likely, especially if they are the ones implementing the plan, more able to determine the best way forward than you are. Outstanding school leadership includes leaders who are very connected but they also have the ability to detach and look at things from a distance. They can take a “helicopter view” and analyse what is actually happening within the organisation at a systemic level.

Outstanding Leaders Have Acute Self-Awareness

Great leaders sometimes make brave, courageous, tough decisions. Some decisions may even have dire consequences; however, outstanding leaders are intimately aware of the possible consequences. Sometimes, there is no avoiding a difficult situation. You might become unpopular, performance might drop, there may be negative consequences, but you understand the risks and consequences. Eyes are wide open! Great leaders know the consequences might be, and they are either ready for them or have weighed everything up and still believe it is the best way forward. They have contingencies, Plan B’s or they are ready to counter the implications of action. Leaders cannot control everything but they can be aware, prepared and conscious about the implications of all that they do. When you work with outstanding school leadership, people often say, “How did she/he know that?”

An Inspiring Vision Represents Outstanding School Leadership

Vision is commonly included as one of the key characteristics of great leadership but an inspiring vision must be big and relentless. It must be just as big on a bad day as it is on a good day. It needs to steer the ship through dark storms not just fill lines of motivational speeches or marketing materials. Vision should be infectious. It must permeate all thinking. In the middle of a crisis, leaders may struggle privately and pause to take stock, but they are the ones whose shoulders carry both the burden and the motivation that makes new action take flight. Outstanding school leadership and management should be guided by the question: “Will this decision, action, behaviour or change move us closer to achieving our goals?” Alignment needs to be constant. The energy must all be directed forward through a connection to a shared vision.

Outstanding Leaders Remove Obstacles

Knowing that teachers are the most important people in your building, what do you do to remove barriers? They don’t need to know about your budget problems, the stresses of your day or the unreasonable pressures from some parents. You need to solve problems, find solutions and free up space for them. They need to have an open path (within reason) and be able to move freely in the direction that maximises opportunities for students. The school needs to be super organised; it needs to run smoothly. Otherwise, teachers are burdened. Teachers need the resources. Not a limitless budget or open list. But they need the resources to achieve their very best. They need smooth decisions. They need a happy workplace. They need to feel valued. They need to love being there. Make the workplace “perfection” and all being equal, there will be no reason they cannot deliver. Take stress and workload away.

Outstanding Leaders Stay Balanced

As leaders, we will face many challenges throughout each day. Without warning, we will need to “put out fires” , avoid crises, resolve conflict and find solutions. It is ok to be unbalanced for a minute. We are only human. But as leaders, we need to quickly find our feet, maintain our composure, and be in a mental state to make well-considered decisions and take measured action. Let’s think about the lessons learnt from Karate Kid. It is only from a balanced position that we can do our very best. Let’s stay balanced. Off-kilter, we can use raised voices, speak in haste, and make rash decisions. Be or do something we might regret. Return to balance quickly. Be the touchstone and the place where people feel safe. Calm the waters, even though, for a minute, inside your head, the world is turbulent. You set the tone. You are the example. You set the tolerance levels of good and bad behaviour. They will copy you. Both the good and the bad. Outstanding School Leadership sometimes means “Outstanding Balance.”

This list is not exhaustive, and many leadership books (in education and corporate settings), as well as advice from exceptional leaders themselves, will help complete the picture. There is also no single leadership style or personality type that is effective. Every context is different. In fact, I believe we need to be whatever is required at the time. Let’s continue to learn and grow with the aim of being the best and most effective leaders we can be, and, consequently, our schools help children become the very best they can be as well.

Outstanding school leadership is rarely about charisma or authority.
It is about balance, integrity, and the ability to make clear decisions under pressure.

Leaders who combine strong character with deep expertise in teaching and learning create schools that are resilient, purposeful, and focused on student success.

Related Leadership Articles

You may also be interested in these leadership insights:

Authentic Leadership
https://www.gsineducation.com/blog/authentic-leadership

Calm Leadership in Schools
https://www.gsineducation.com/blog/calm-leadership-in-schools

Leading by Intimidation: The Weakest Leadership Style
https://www.gsineducation.com/blog/leading-by-intimidation

The Games We Play: Power, Insecurity and Leadership in Schools
https://www.gsineducation.com/blog/the-games-we-play-power-insecurity-and-leadership-in-schools

Leadership Articles Collection

This article forms part of a collection of leadership insights for school leaders.

Read the full collection here:

Leadership in International Schools: 16 Articles for School Leaders

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CEO and Education Expert Greg Parry

Internationally renowned for his expertise in educational leadership, Greg Parry’s vast experience includes leading projects for educational institutions across Australia, the Middle East, the United States, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China. Recognised for his numerous contributions in the education arena, Greg has received the Minister’s Award for Excellence in School Leadership based on improvements in school performance and a range of successful principal training and leadership development programs, as well as the School of Excellence Award for Industry/School Partnerships and the School of Excellence Award for Technology Innovation. His company GSE (Global Services in Education) has been recognised as having the Best Global Brand in International Education in 2015 and 2016.

Considered one of the premier experts in his profession, Greg has trained teachers and principals throughout the world in areas such as critical thinking, language development and leadership. His expertise in school start-up projects, leadership and curriculum development has made him a sought-after authority in these disciplines.

www.gsineducation.com

Global Services in Education set up and operate schools in all parts of the world. Governed by a philosophy of global citizenship, every member of the GSE team shares a passion to help shape international education and student achievement through inspiration and collaboration.
Our goal is to meet the highest objectives of every school, teacher, student and parent, with an unwavering dedication to quality education, shared ideals and intercultural perspectives.