Leadership Means People

In Peter Northhouse’s  “Leadership: Theory and Practice” he discusses, among other things, the important work of Robert Katz who found three essential skills for leadership: technical skills (learned capacity to do the job), interpersonal skills (relationships and emotional IQ), and conceptual skills (vision, creativity, new ideas). 

Northouse points out that the overwhelming research base in Katz’s work demonstrates that first level leadership positions, in the school setting would be lead teachers and curriculum coaches, must have strong technical skills with a good amount of interpersonal skills. Effective mid-level leadership, which might be assistant principal or principals depending on the size of your school, demonstrates all three skills equally. The effective top-level leader, who would be the Head of School or Superintendent, possesses both interpersonal and conceptual skills.

Regardless of the level of leadership, what they all have in common is interpersonal skills. It is the leader’s ability to work with, motivate, support, and correct with grace that makes the leader successful at all levels of management. Maybe this is because it is the teacher that makes the school successful. I had a mentor who always said A SCHOOL IS ITS TEACHERS. This was not because the students and families were not important. It did not mean to diminish the impact of administration on the school program.

A SCHOOL IS ITS TEACHERS mindset is one that recognizes that the teachers are the center point that make the vision of the leader work and produces student learning and achievement.  Without the teachers the administration, students, and parents would have limited recourse or path to be successful.

So, as you approach the Christmas break, a time in our schools when classroom discipline becomes more challenging; a time in schools where teachers are asked to volunteer more of their time to go to programs and put on special events; a time when many of them struggle to properly care for their own family while trying to encourage and minister to the families in your school; what are you doing to encourage them?

Katz said that one aspect of interpersonal leadership is having a listening ear. Are you taking the time to invest emotionally in your staff? Are you hearing what they need you to hear in conversations? Now is the time to say thank you, you are appreciated, and how can I help you going into the new year?