Leadership in Education

Essay.
Introduction
The debate over whether leaders are born or made is never ending. Many people believe that leaders
are born with characters that qualifies them to lead. On the other hand, many people believe that leaders are
made by the environment and the vision that drives them to work hard and emerge as a leader in their society.
The world has known many great leaders who have changed and influenced the world in one way or another.
Having a clear vision and being a visionary leader can be one of the way for a person to emerge as a leader. A
leader is defined as a person who is in charge of a company or an organization or even a country (Davies et
al., 2005). The difference between one leader and the other might be the style of leadership that they use. This
paper will focus on three styles of leaderships, and it will discuss their definition, the characteristics of each
style and the difference between them.

Definition and description of the leadership styles

Bureaucratic style of leadership
Leadership styles are diverse and different, and the first leadership style is the bureaucratic style. The
bureaucratic style of leadership is one of the most important formal models that consider an organization as a
hierarchical system (Bush, 2003).
The idea of the bureaucratic theory was first introduced by Max Weber, who argues that this type of leadership
is the most efficient form in management (Tomlinson, 2004). It describes a formal organization that aims for
efficiency through rational approach to management (Bush, 2003). The bureaucratic style focuses on the
importance of hierarchical authority and the chain of command associated with the hierarchy. This type of
leadership style like other formal models is goal oriented with the person in charge at the top of the hieratical
pyramid. The decision-making process and the behavior of the staff in this style are directed by rules and
regulation instead of personal relationships. This style of leadership encourages the impersonal relationship
between the staff to limit any individuality in the decision making process (Bush, 2003). The jobs appointment
in this type of leadership is based on the experience and the qualification that a person has. The promotions in
this kind of leadership also depend on the expertise that is demonstrated by an individual.
In a school setting the teacher report to the head principal who is at the top of the hierarchical system.
According to Tony Bush (2003), all schools are bureaucracies, there are rules governing the behavior of the
members (P.45). The decisions and the goals of the schools are always decided by the head principle in this
style of leadership. Everyone in the school is goal oriented, and they all work for the common goal.
Bureaucracy style is used in schools by many countries including China, Poland, and many others (Bush,
2003).
Collegial style of leadership

The second leadership style is the collegial and it describes a work environment where the authority
and the responsibility of the work is shared equally between the co-workers who have a clear understanding of
the aim of the institution (Bush, 2003). This type of leadership relies on the decentralization of the authority by
distributing the power or the authority away from the center and to others (Tomlinson, 2004). This type of
leadership is normative, and the decision-making process is made through a discussion that end with the
consensus of all the members involved. The decisions that are being made are normally based on democratic
principles (Bush, 2003). The collegial style adopts a common set of values that the members of an
organization share while socializing during the training period or in the early professional practice (Bush, 2003).
Everyone involved in the decision-making process agrees on the common goal that limits the conflict and the
division in the work. The size of the decision-making group is an essential element in the collegial style, the
group must be relatively small to enable everyone to be heard and it must consist of people who are expert in
their fields (Tomlinson, 2004).
The collegial leadership style was first used in schools in the 1980s and 1990s when it was viewed as
the most appropriate style (Bush, 2003). In a school setting this type of leadership is defined as teachers
discussing and collaborating with other teachers to meet a common target or goal (Tomlinson, 2004). The
teachers hold the authority of expertise and can be autonomous while making decisions. However, teachers
must collaborate and share their experiences to teach and learn. In this leadership style all the teachers talk
and discuss their plans and their preparation for the lessons and classroom observations are considered
normal (Bush, 2003).

Transformation style of leadership

The third type of leadership style is the transformational leadership that was introduced by Dr. James
Burns (Bush, 2003). This type of leadership emphasizes on the commitments and capability of the members of
the organization. The characters of the transformational leadership are divided into four main characters that
are labeled as the four Is (Johannsen, 2014). The first character of this leadership style is the individual
consideration that provides personal attention to other that need it. The second is intellectual stimulation where
the leader encourages others to be involved in several brainstorming sessions. The third character is the
idealized influence where the leader is the role model for the others, and everyone is expected to use the
leader as an example. The final character is the inspirational motivation where the leader expects high
performance from everyone involved by motivating them (Bush, 2003).
This style of leadership was adopted by many scholars because it encourages the members to perform
beyond their expectations (Hoy et al., 2001). There are three basic function that a transformative leader must
have. First, the transformational leader has to always motivate his followers in order to achieve the highest
levels of performance possible by transforming their beliefs, attitudes and values. Second, they have a
charisma that sets a vision and instill trust and pride while working. The vision of the transformational leader is
what guides the members of this leadership style. Finally, they always try to stimulate intellectual and offer it to
their followers to get the best possible results (Bush, 2003).

In the school setting, the role of the administrators is to focus their attention on facilitative power to help the
teachers in the school to reach their possible potential. The teachers and the administrators lead by example in
the school to achieve the highest result possible. In an educational setting this type of leadership helps the
teachers growth and development and it is very effective in problem solving (Bush, 2003).

Comparing characteristics
All of the leadership styles tend to be normative ( what is accepted as normal) and can be applied in
any school setting (Bush, 2003). The leadership theories tend to be selective which means that every theory
focuses on an element at the expense of other elements for example; the Bureaucratic focuses on rules at the
expense of personal relations. Another point that all of the leadership styles have in common is that they all are
based on observations, and then they are developed into concepts.
All of the leadership styles have their strength, but they also have their weaknesses. The bureaucratic
leadership style follows the rules strictly which could ensure that there is an equality in opportunities. The rules
and regulations in the leadership style ensure that everyone is efficient and capable of the task at hand. The
Bureaucratic style is less effective in teams and unlike the collegial and the transformational style cannot be
flexible and therefore it leaves no room for creativity or innovation The bureaucratic style makes it hard for
schools to change their rules and adapt to the needs of society (Bush, 2003).
On the other hand, the collegial style is based on sharing and democracy that leads to less conflict in
the working space which increase the productivity of the employees. The main focus of the collegial model is
the decision-making process that only works when the group consists of experts. Furthermore, the
transformational leadership is based on the vision and the motivation of the leader that challenge the members
and make them work harder which improve the productivity in the workplace. The leaders inspire their team
members and always expect them to be the best at what they do. Nevertheless, the followers may find it hard
to follow the leaders vision if they didnt believe in it. Administrators can struggle and find challenges in all of
the three leadership style (Davies et al., C,2005).
Reflection
In conclusion, each one of the leadership style has it strength and it weaknesses and in my opinion it is
very important to understand each style in order to determine which style works best in different work settings.
As a future teacher and possibly an administrator, I think that it is not possible to have a perfect leadership
style because there is a flaw in all of them. However, understanding them all in detail make me think of what
kind of a leader I want to be in the future. As a teacher, I want to offer my students a support system so that
they can reach and achieve what they are capable of. I also want to offer them structures and rules to follow
because everyone needs structure. I want to be the kind of teacher who listen to my colleagues and learn from
their experiences and share my experience with them. In the end, I want to combine all of the leadership styles
and create a leadership style based on the strength of the three leadership styles that are mentioned in this
paper.

References

Bush, T. (2003). Theories of educational leadership and management (3rd ed.). London; Thousand Oaks: Sage
Publications.
Davies, B., Ellison, L., & Bowring-Carr, C. (2005). School leadership in the 21st century: Developing a strategic approach
(2nd ed.). London; New York: RoutledgeFalmer.
Johannsen, M. (2014, March 9). Types Of Leadership Styles. Retrieved Septemper 17, 2015, from legacee:
https://www.legacee.com/types-of-leadership-styles/
Hoy, W. K., & Miskel, C. G. (2001). Educational administration: Theory, research, and practice (6th ed.). Boston: McGrawHill.
Tomlinson, H. (2004). Educational management. London: RoutledgeFalmer.

Leadership in Education Questions

1. Name and describe a leader that you know. What did they do to make a positive change or have a
positive influence in the world or their community? Name three qualities that you think they have.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
From about 10 years ago, H.H.S. Mohammed Bin Rashid became the ruler of Dubai. He really
have lots of achievements, not only in the UAE, but all over the world. UAE did become more
globalized in different types and ways. Although, HH.S Mohammed Bin Rashid has really
interpersonal skills, which was a way of exploring and communicating with others. Not in our country,
but in outside of it. That led to gain a friendship and partnership from more than 10 countries all over
the world. He is very flexible, friendly, kind, understandable, and acknowledge of changes. He accept
changes and build up on it, and spread it out for people in a convenient way, which makes them
accept it with a smile. In my opinion, I believe that His highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid is a
great example and role of a great leader.
2. Read the student essay Leadership in Education and answer the questions.

I.

What are the 3 styles of leadership presented in the essay?

1- Bureaucratic style
2- Collegial style
3- Transformational style
II.

III.
IV.
V.

VI.
VII.

The essay states The bureaucratic style of leadership is one of the most important formal models that consider
an organization as a hierarchical system (Bush, 2003). Explain the meaning of hierarchy in your own words. Is a
formation and a design that organize and classify things based on the importance of it or the strongest
to the lowest or and weakest.
Who is at the top of the hierarchy in a school? Head principle
The bureaucratic model has the main aim of describes a formal organization that aims for efficiency
through rational approach to management
What is a chain of command in a school?
Like other formal models is goal oriented with the person in charge at the top of the hieratical
pyramid
Explain a Collegial style of leadership in your own words. It about sharing the work between each other
equally. And the discussion making is based on all of them
The essay states This type of leadership (Collegial) relies on the decentralization of the authority by
distributing the power or the authority away from the center and to others (Tomlinson, 2004). Explain what this
means when applied to a school and give one example.

VIII.
IX.

That means that the leader is sharing and interaction with the other faculties and stakeholders at the
school. And letting them to share their ideas and give their opinion. For example,
What are the characteristics of Transformational Leadership? individual consideration, intellectual
stimulation, the idealized influence, and inspirational motivation
What are the three qualities described that a Transformational Leader must have? always motivate his
followers, have a charisma that sets a vision and instill trust and pride while working, always try to
stimulate intellectual and offer it to their followers to get the best possible results
Considering transformational leadership, the essay presents the idea that The teachers and the administrators
lead by example in the school to achieve the highest result possible. In an educational setting this type of
leadership helps the teachers growth and development and it is very effective in problem solving (Bush, 2003).
In your opinion is this an important focus for schools? Explain.

X.

Complete the tables that shows 3 strengths of each leadership model.

Bureaucratic Leadership
Collegial leadership
Transformational leadership
Equally in opportunities
work is shared equally
provides personal attention to
between the co-workers
other
Aims for efficiency through decentralization of the
leader encourages others to
rational approach to
authority
be involved in several
management
brainstorming sessions
focuses on the importance
decision-making process is
idealized influence where the
of hierarchical authority
made through a discussion
leader is the role model for
and the chain of command
the others

3. In your opinion do you think it is possible for aspects of all three leadership styles to be used in a
school in UAE? Explain your reasons and give examples to justify.
No, because all of the aspects has its own way and rules. So, everyone would be distracted and
concerned about their work and their job. For example: bureaucratic aspect is about giving the
commands and they stakeholders have to do it without any refuse. Collegial aspect is a very good
aspect to apply in schools. Because its all about sharing ideas and discussing with all of the
stakeholders. The last aspect is the transformational, which is about the first head on the hierarchy is
planning and setting a vision that really looking for change and innovation at school, and stakeholders
have to do it as it is.
And yes, because each of the aspects has strengths and advantages that will benefit the stakeholders
and the society.
If there is a chance to be asked which of the aspects would you prefer to use in schools I would highly
recommend to use collegial leadership aspect in schools and apply it, because everyone would like to
share and give their opinion. Which will motivate them and encourage them to work and produce.