Implications for Educational Leaders

I began searching my twitter account for an article post involving leadership.  I finally stumbled across a re-tweet posted by Tom Buckmiller titled, The 5 Ways Leaders Destroy Their Team.  This was originally posted by Scott Williams on November 16, 2011 under the webpage address: http://www.bigisthenewsmall.com/2011/11/16/5-ways-leaders-destroy-their-team.  The role of leadership is not a simplistic task.  It involves human beings hiring and working with other human beings.  Some  people are eager to obtain leadership roles that they are not capable of performing. This causes a lack of interest in their job as well as turmoil within the building.

The 5 Ways Leaders Can Destroy Their Team are:

• 1. My Way Or The Highway:   I've worked in school districts when the administrator has said this during faculty meetings.  This establishes fear into teachers.  This creates an environment where teachers will not express their views or opinions because it doesn't align with the leaders. The administrator should take time to listen to the teachers and collaborate with grade level teams in decision making.
• 2. All About The Numbers: I view this as standardized test scores.  We must do what it takes to improve student achievement scores.  This creates competition among teachers within buildings.  When it is all about the numbers some will teacher to the test in order to get the numbers.
• 3. Talk But Don’t Listen: No one can get a word in or have an opinion because the Leadership Destroyer is always talking.  Not only are they always talking, they never listen. If people are not heard, they will cease to say the things that matter.  Shh (be quiet) Listen! Good listening skills is a very important leadership skill.
• 4. Change Things For The Sake Of Changing Things: Change is good and sometimes necessary to create forward momentum.  The Leadership Destroyer takes this to another level by changing things just to let you know that they’re the boss.  They are unwilling to receive feedback or go back to what worked, even if their change isn’t working. Change should be gradual and steady. 
• 5. They Just Don’t Care