As educators, you wear many hats. But have you ever stopped to think about which you are wearing most often in your leadership position? As we launch the Lead the Way to Literacy initiative, we have been inspired by the AASA research on the various types of Instructional Leaders, and we were inspired to have some fun!
Take the following quiz and tell us: Are you a collaborator? A charismatic leader? A structured leader through and through? Find out which “hat” you are donning day-to-day and be sure to share your results!
You firmly believe that there is only one way to handle any situation -- your way. Your confidence commands the respect of your staff and as a result, people are drawn to you as someone who possesses power and will not hesitate to use it to achieve goals for the school or district. You acknowledge that research is helpful, yet somehow you already know the how to get the job done. After all, you succeeded thus far, so you must be doing something right!
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Charisma is your middle name and you sure know how to use it! Somewhere between soaking up the spotlight and working toward an important goal, you instinctively use your personable nature to navigate the system and “get things done.” You have the unique ability to exercise almost any leadership style and garner the support of your staff in the process. Never one for hostility, you always catch more flies with honey... a handshake...and a smile!
Get out the rule book -- you are a structured leader who prefers not to depart from established practices. There is no use in reinventing a process -- just keep doing things the way they have always been done and avoid ruffling feathers. Think outside the box? “No thanks,” says you. “I will stay in here where it is comfy and cozy.” After all, if it ain’t broke…
You identify yourself as a leader, but you know that you cannot do it all alone. You like to learn everything about a concept or program first and decide if it will benefit the students. Yet, you appreciate the insights and talents of your team and like to involve them in the decision-making process. At the end of the day, you will have the last word, but when all is said and done, you feel as though it was truly a group effort.
Gather everyone around to share the news - you are a collaborator! Never one to take the reins and ride solo, you see the value in hearing everyone’s opinion and understanding all sides of the argument. As a collaborative leader, you aim to involve your staff in setting the direction of the school. When it comes to making decisions, you prefer to do so collectively, by a show of hands or better yet, unanimity!