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Counselors play an integral role in shaping the lives of the people who depend on them for advice. Whether you are planning a career as a school counselor, a substance abuse counselor or a career counselor, there are many great opportunities to make a difference in the field. Preparing for your interview is the first step in the process. Making a favorable impression will make all of the difference when you are searching for a counseling career.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for school and career counselors is growing rapidly. The BLS predicts a 19% growth in the field between 2013 and 2020 as there is an increased need for skilled counselors to help students navigate the new work marketplace. Career and school counselors assist their students in selecting a career path and making educational choices that support their goals. The BLS states that the median wage for counselors in 2010 was $53,380 and is expected to increase.

Preparing for the interview can be challenging. There are elements of the counselor interview that are unique to the profession and test your ability to exercise good judgement. These questions are designed to demonstrate your proficiency in handling the range of issues that you will have to deal with during the course of your career.

Some questions are asked to determine your attitude about your role in the school. A school counselor wears many hats, from social worker to adviser. Your interview will focus heavily on how you see your responsibility in this role.

Potential Interview Questions

What is the role of counselor in the school?

What leadership qualities do you possess that make you right for this position?

What new ideas would you like to implement?

What are some creative twists to solving old problems?

How will you effectively manage time in order to both counsel students and complete paperwork?

The new technological landscape has changed the way we view careers. As a counselor, you will be expected to keep up with these changes and be knowledgeable about how to solve uncommon problems. Your interview may include questions like:

How would you deal with a student who is being stalked on Facebook?

What advice would you give a student who is interested in a career as a freelancer?

What advice would you give a student who wants to erase negative information posted about him online?

Finally, there are some challenging situations that may test your judgment. Your interviewer may ask questions about how you will handle difficult situations.

How would you deal with an enraged parent?

What would you do if one of your students confided in you that they were pregnant?

What would you do if you suspected one of your students was addicted to drugs?

What challenges do lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students face and how will you meet those challenges?

Working as a school counselor means that you will wear many hats. According to the American School Counselor association, you will be responsible for advocating for your students and providing them with valuable guidance to deal with life's issues. Making a good impression during your interview is the first step in making a difference in the life of an impressionable student.

Resources:

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What Should I Know Before Interviewing for my First School Counseling Job After College? | Best Counseling Degrees

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Counselors play an integral role in shaping the lives of the people who depend on them for advice. Whether you are planning a career as a school counselor, a substance abuse counselor or a career counselor, there are many great opportunities to make a difference in the field.

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School Counselors:  Leaders in School Reform, Student Achievement, and College Readiness

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School Counselors:  Leaders in School Reform, Student Achievement, and College Readiness

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School Counselors!  Leaders in School Reform, Student Achievement and College Readiness

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What Principals Want in a School Counselor

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What Principals Want in a School Counselor

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What a Principal Wants in a School Counselor

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An alarming rise in the number of coronavirus cases nationwide is prompting school districts to delay plans to return to in-person learning and, in some cases, revert back to remote instruction. In-person learning for high-school students in Michigan was canceled, and some schools in Illinois and Rhode Island also are closing.

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An alarming rise in the number of coronavirus cases nationwide is prompting school districts to delay plans to return to in-person learning and, in some cases, revert back to remote instruction. In-person learning for high-school students in Michigan was canceled, and some schools in Illinois and Rhode Island also are closing.

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Three Essential Elements of Educational Leadership

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Three Essential Elements of Educational Leadership

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People normally think of educational leaders as principals, superintendents, and higher education thought leaders in our schools, communities, and even businesses. However, educational leadership exists outside of the classroom, too, whenever someone in a position of influence works to guide teachers, students, parents, or policymakers toward a common education-related goal.

Karen Reiss Medwed, PhD, assistant dean of academic and faculty affairs at Northeastern University's Graduate School of Education, provides an honest description of what it means to commit to a career in educational leadership-a career that embraces lifelong learning, hands-on experience, and inclusivity. She shares more about the three tenets of the field below.

Download Our Free Guide to Earning Your EdD

Learn how an EdD can give you the skills to enact organizational change in any industry.

Three Elements of Educational Leadership

1. Lifelong Learning

Reiss Medwed says that a personal commitment to lifelong learning is vital to succeeding in an educational or organizational leadership role. She defines a lifelong learner as, "someone who understands that learning is a continuous process and someone who is going to bring their context into that experience." Making lifelong learning a personal priority gives educational leaders the authenticity to share its value to others.

Whether your role is as a classroom leader, educational professional, non-profit coordinator, or corporate trainer, it's important to understand that every stakeholder you will interact with is a part of a learning network in their own classrooms and organizations. By modeling the love of lifelong learning, it influences others to value that trait, as well.

Reiss Medwed shares that part of the working in the educational field requires accepting that no matter your title or role, you must continue to improve and develop throughout your career.

"Each of us is always a learner...we're constantly going to be learning new things," she says. The nimbler the learner, she adds, the better.

2. An Ecosystem of Experiences

Reiss Medwed says that educational leaders should practice critical thinking, empathy, collaboration, and flexibility in a variety of work environments-and with a variety of people-in order to engage, lead, and effect change in a meaningful way.

For this reason, she says, Northeastern University emphasizes experiential learning as a core tenet of their EdD program, offering students the chance to practice these leadership skills in real-world situations that mirror the environments they'll work in after they graduate.

"Experiential learning is a critical quality for leadership today," Reiss Medwed remarks. She also stresses that increased self-awareness and an understanding of tools such as design thinking-two skills that come out of hands-on learning exercises-are essential ways to get "everyone to the table" when trying to effect change.

3. Inclusivity

The third aspect of educational leadership is one that's becoming more prominent in classrooms and companies everywhere-inclusivity. Reiss Medwed explains more about what inclusivity means for today's leaders and what their role will be in bringing a more diverse perspective to learning:

"We speak a lot about inclusive prosperity, which is a way of looking at the world and saying, ' How do I go about doing this in my organization so that everyone has an equitable seat at the table?' I think that the language of inclusivity speaks to the organizational level of educational leadership because you're trying to track that the improvements and the advances that you're bringing are going to serve the broadest possible population and that you're not going to be advancing one side without bringing everyone else along with you."

Leaders intuitively know that being inclusive is the right thing to do, but it also has a positive correlation to the success of organizations. A recent McKinsey & Company study revealed that surveyed companies in the "top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35 percent more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians." This success metric was consistent for gender diversity, as well, as the top quarter in this group was 15 percent more likely to perform better than their respective industry medians.

As workplaces acknowledge the benefit of focusing more on diversity in hiring, there is an opportunity to recognize diversity in thought and experience among the teams already working in an organization. Recognizing and being inclusive of the strengths of your internal workforce, rather than continually pursuing external talent, can strengthen an organization. An equipped educational leader will know the best ways to bring people with all types of backgrounds and experiences together.

The Value of Educational Leadership

It's easy to see how the embrace of lifelong learning and the noble pursuit of inclusive prosperity can change the classrooms and companies that educational leaders work in, but can it be a worthwhile pursuit beyond your day job? Reiss Medwed shares that there is a value in earning a doctoral degree that extends past the offices in which we work:

"An educational leader or organizational leader who is coming to their work with an understanding of inclusive prosperity (or social justice) is carrying with them some deeper insights into the ways in which all of our organizations are connected one to the other," she says. "This interconnectedness is one way to make bigger changes in the world each day."

One of the most effective ways to become adept at educational leadership principles is through a Doctorate of Education, and the program at Northeastern University is helping students achieve their most ambitious goals.

"We are developing scholar-practitioners which means students are experienced educators who already are in the field and are looking to change problems on the ground. As students are moving through their coursework and learning new knowledge and skills they are able to implement that within their organizations," shares Sara Ewell, associate teaching professor for Northeastern's EdD program.

The program artfully combines classroom learning with the experiential practice needed to meet learning communities where they are to provide the best outcomes for leaders and those they lead.

Is a Doctor of Education Degree Right for You?

Those considering a degree in educational leadership are equipped to lead as instructors in traditional schools, but there are also professional opportunities that extend far beyond those more "traditional" roles.

Reiss Medwed says that anyone interested in pursuing a more rewarding career should not look at the requirements of a doctoral program as a checklist of qualities that make you "right" or "wrong" for the program. Instead, she says that prospective students should ask themselves if they have "the passion and the drive" to thrive as an educational or organizational leader. Common traits of a future professional in this field include an insatiable curiosity to explore and learn, along with a desire to go out and change the areas in education that need improvement. Educational leaders aren't generally satisfied unless they are working to promote positive transformation in their learning communities. Reiss Medwood elaborates:

"All of us have questions that we keep asking ourselves and are those nagging questions that keep us up at night. 'How do I change this and make this better?' Someone who has that question-and it just won't go away-would make an excellent candidate for this type of program."

Reiss Medwed's says ideal doctoral candidates have the desire to find and establish a valuable solution for the problems they wish to change. She also believes that the following qualities signify a good candidate for a career in educational leadership and an eventual doctorate degree:

A passion for uncovering the answer to new questions they encounter

A willingness to be a novice and start something in an area in which they're inexperienced

The self-regulation to carve out time on a week-to-week basis for the three years of the program

Reiss Medwed explains more about the personal drive that many students bring with them to the classroom, as well.

"You have to have a problem that you want to solve. You have to have something that you want to change for the better. You want to be passionate about that transformation. You have to be willing to know that you're going to do things as a doctoral candidate in research that you've never done before in your field," she explains. "And no matter where you are in life, you have to be able to know that you're going to have to give yourself the time you need to actually learn something new. If you're ready to do those things, you're ready to get your doctoral degree."

Certain Advice for Uncertain Change Agents

Even the most qualified students have concerns about their candidacy for the rigor of a doctoral program, but Reiss Medwed insists that being self-aware about your learning is the key to success-during their schooling and even after the degree program is finished. She cautions students not to think of a doctorate as a means to an end, but to consider it the next step in their lifelong learning journey.

If you fit the criteria for a lifelong learner and want to change the world, Reiss Medwed also gives this sage advice to those who still fear they aren't poised to succeed:

"Don't look over your shoulder [at other well-known professionals who are] getting a doctorate and therefore decide that you're not worthy. Too many of the right people don't come in and get their final degree. If you're wondering if your problem is real enough-if you're really going to be a good change agent-then you're probably the right person to be going after this degree."

What change do you want to see in the world? How can a Doctorate in Education make it happen?
To learn more about earning your EdD to advance your career in educational leadership, download our free guide below.

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3 Essential Elements of Educational Leadership

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People normally think of educational leaders as principals, superintendents, and higher education thought leaders in our schools, communities, and even businesses. However, educational leadership exists outside of the classroom, too, whenever someone in a position of influence works to guide teachers, students, parents, or policymakers toward a common education-related goal.

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ASCD November Issue of Educational Leadership

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ASCD November Issue of Educational Leadership

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ASCD empowers educators to achieve excellence in learning, teaching, and leading so that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

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I wanted to think about my own "Educational Leadership Philosophy" and put it into words as I come into the new school year. As I write this down, I love the picture below that reminds me it is not only what we say, but what we do that matters.

cc licensed ( BY SA ) flickr photo shared by Soliya

Education and school have traditionally been the hub of our communities. Not only for the wisdom and knowledge that they create for our present and future, but for the connections that they create amongst a community. Growing up in a small town, teachers were revered and respected for the work that they did with students, and they always made an effort to connect with parents to bring them in on the learning process of their child, not just with developing intelligence, but developing students as people. The notion of, "it takes a village", is something that I believe in deeply, and believe that it is more important now than ever.

As a leader, I believe in bringing a community together to share leadership in many different avenues. In a quote from Tom Peters, he states that "leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders." In a school community, this starts at the top in working with others to develop their leadership in every position and level of school. By focusing on an individual's strengths, you show that you value their expertise first, before you look to help them develop in other areas. This strength-based focus helps to build a relationship with each individual, pushing them to be better every day. When the leader of an organization has this belief and proves it through actions, it trickles down to students in the classroom. The more experience I have in leadership, the more I see that effective teachers are effective leaders, and have this same strength-based approach with their students. If we have a community that focus on building leadership in all areas, we are more likely to be successful within our vision.

Through this value on developing leadership, our schools are more open not only to navigate but to lead change as well. As society continues to change, schools need to adapt to best serve our students for their future as well as their present. Those that are willing to adapt and learn from change now, will be the ones that are most likely to be successful in the future. As we see different jobs being created in our world, while other jobs are becoming irrelevant, we look to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs in schools. This is often created by instilling a sense of "intrapreneurial spirit" within educators that are always looking to develop and further the organization. While we look and build on what has worked in the past, we must also continuously look forward.

One of those changes in our world is a shift to an open and transparent environment. As an administrator, I have the opportunity to become better by continuously being able to visit classrooms and see what the most effective teachers do. Peers do not have this same opportunity because of our physical environment. Through the use of different technologies such as blogging and Twitter, we open up our classrooms to other educators not only in our own schools, but to schools around the world to bring them in on this collaboration. As I always focus on "what is best for kids", it is crucial that we look to not only help our own students, but how we can help other students from around the globe as well. As we tell our students when they walk into our schools, we must ensure that we create a culture of sharing within our own community to learn from others around the world, as well as within our own community. The most innovative environments outside of school tap into the "wisdom of the room" and bring in different voices to continuously learn and grow; schools must do the same.

To be successful, people must have a purpose within our organization. This included parents who are a great untapped resource within our own communities. We can no longer have children going home and being asked the question, "what did you learn today?", and responding with, "nothing." By opening the doors to our classrooms through both physical and virtual environments, we have the opportunity to change the conversation at home. Parents are able to be actively involved in the process of learning, leading to a higher opportunity for success of each child. The more we can involve parents in this process at home, the more likely students will be successful in school, and beyond. This community support is imperative.

In summary, building relationships, developing leadership, and focusing on school as the "hub" of our community,we are more likely to create an environment where our students are building a bright future both today and tomorrow. By looking at what worked in the past while also looking to develop our future, our community is more likely to be able to come together to create the schools our kids need.

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I wanted to think about my own "Educational Leadership Philosophy" and put it into words as I come into the new school year. As I write this down, I love the picture below that reminds me it is not only what we say, but what we do that matters.

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In my new eBook, 365 Inspirational Quotes: Daily Motivation For Your Best Year Ever, I share the quotations that have inspired me as I've launched my companies, written books and raised my children. Below are my top 100 leadership quotes of all time.

1. A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. -Lao Tzu

2. Where there is no vision, the people perish. -Proverbs 29:18

3. I must follow the people. Am I not their leader? -Benjamin Disraeli

4. You manage things; you lead people. -Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper

5. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. -Max DePree

6. Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. -Warren Bennis

7. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way. - General George Patton

8. Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. -Jack Welch

9. A leader is a dealer in hope. -Napoleon Bonaparte

10. You don't need a title to be a leader. -Multiple Attributions

11. A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. -John Maxwell

12. My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence. -General Montgomery

13. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations. -Peter Drucker

14. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead

15. The nation will find it very hard to look up to the leaders who are keeping their ears to the ground. -Sir Winston Churchill

16. The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born. -Warren Bennis

17. To command is to serve, nothing more and nothing less. -Andre Malraux

18. He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander. -Aristotle

19. Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position. -Brian Tracy

20. I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. -Ralph Nader

21. Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes. -Peter Drucker

22. Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm. -Publilius Syrus

23. A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together. -Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

24. The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. -Theodore Roosevelt

25. Leadership is influence. -John C. Maxwell

26. You don't lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case. -Ken Kesey

27. When I give a minister an order, I leave it to him to find the means to carry it out. -Napoleon Bonaparte

28. Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better. -Harry S. Truman

29. People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision. -John Maxwell

30. So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work. -Peter Drucker

31. The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes. -Tony Blair

32. The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It's got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet. -Reverend Theodore Hesburgh

33. The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. -Kenneth Blanchard

34. A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible. -Polybius

35. A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position. -John Maxwell

36. A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be. -Rosalynn Carter

37. The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly. -Jim Rohn

38. Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it's amazing what they can accomplish. -Sam Walton

39. A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. -Douglas MacArthur

40. A ruler should be slow to punish and swift to reward. -Ovid

41. No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it. -Andrew Carnegie

42. Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. -General Dwight Eisenhower

43. The leader has to be practical and a realist yet must talk the language of the visionary and the idealist. -Eric Hoffer

44. Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems. -Brian Tracy

45. A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd. -Max Lucado

46. Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. -General George Patton

47. As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others. - Bill Gates

48. All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership. -John Kenneth Galbraith

49. Do what you feel in your heart to be right-for you'll be criticized anyway. -Eleanor Roosevelt

50. Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership. -Donald Rumsfeld

51. Education is the mother of leadership. -Wendell Willkie

52. Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out. -Stephen Covey

53. Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand. -General Colin Powell

54. Great leaders are not defined by the absence of weakness, but rather by the presence of clear strengths. -John Zenger

55. He who has great power should use it lightly. -Seneca

56. He who has learned how to obey will know how to command. -Solon

57. I am reminded how hollow the label of leadership sometimes is and how heroic followership can be. -Warren Bennis

58. I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody. -Herbert Swope

59. If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities. -Maya Angelou

60. If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing. -Benjamin Franklin

61. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. -John Quincy Adams

62. In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. -Thomas Jefferson

63. It is absurd that a man should rule others, who cannot rule himself. -Latin Proverb

64. It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership. -Nelson Mandela

65. Lead and inspire people. Don't try to manage and manipulate people. Inventories can be managed but people must be led. -Ross Perot

66. Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal. -Vince Lombardi

67. Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them. -John C. Maxwell

68. Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. -John F. Kennedy

69. Leadership cannot just go along to get along. Leadership must meet the moral challenge of the day. -Jesse Jackson

70. Leadership does not always wear the harness of compromise. -Woodrow Wilson

71. Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy. -Norman Schwarzkopf

72. Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership. -Colin Powell

73. Leadership is the key to 99 percent of all successful efforts. -Erskine Bowles

74. Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better. -Bill Bradley

75. Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing. -Tom Peters

76. Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall. -Stephen Covey

77. Never give an order that can't be obeyed. -General Douglas MacArthur

78. No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent. -Abraham Lincoln

79. What you do has far greater impact than what you say. -Stephen Covey

80. Not the cry, but the flight of a wild duck, leads the flock to fly and follow. -Chinese Proverb

81. One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency. -Arnold Glasow

82. The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men, the conviction and the will to carry on. -Walter Lippman

83. The greatest leaders mobilize others by coalescing people around a shared vision. -Ken Blanchard

84. The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership. -Harvey Firestone

85. To do great things is difficult; but to command great things is more difficult. -Friedrich Nietzsche

86. To have long term success as a coach or in any position of leadership, you have to be obsessed in some way. -Pat Riley

87. True leadership lies in guiding others to success. In ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do and doing it well. -Bill Owens

88. We live in a society obsessed with public opinion. But leadership has never been about popularity. -Marco Rubio

89. Whatever you are, be a good one. -Abraham Lincoln

90. You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do. -Eleanor Roosevelt

91. A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troops, while on the contrary an incapable leader can demoralize the best of troops. -John J Pershing

92. A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit. -John Maxwell

93. There are three essentials to leadership: humility, clarity and courage. -Fuchan Yuan

94. I am endlessly fascinated that playing football is considered a training ground for leadership, but raising children isn't. -Dee Dee Myers

95. A cowardly leader is the most dangerous of men. -Stephen King

96. My responsibility is getting all my players playing for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back. -Unknown

97. A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. -George Patton

98. The supreme quality of leadership is integrity. -Dwight Eisenhower

99. You don't lead by hitting people over the head-that's assault, not leadership. -Dwight Eisenhower

100. Earn your leadership every day. -Michael Jordan

______

Check out, 365 Inspirational Quotes: Daily Motivation For Your Best Year Ever, by NY Times bestselling author Kevin Kruse.
WATCH: Bill Marriott's Lesson Learned From President Dwight D. Eisenhower 30 Motivational Quotes For Job Seekers 10 Brainteasers To Test Your Mental Sharpness 13 Things You Should Never Say At Work Zig Ziglar: 10 Quotes That Can Change Your Life The Difference Between Happiness And Engagement At Work 25 Low-Cost Ways To Reward Employees
... Read More

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In my new eBook, 365 Inspirational Quotes: Daily Motivation For Your Best Year Ever, I share the quotations that have inspired me as I've launched my companies, written books and raised my children. Below are my top 100 leadership quotes of all time. 1. A leader is best when people barely [...]

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5 Different Types of Leadership Styles | Brian Tracy

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Although it is impossible to think that one could or should have all the answers, too many of us often feel inadequate when we don't. It is hard to get away from the idea that the teacher, principal, superintendent or whoever is "in charge" should be the expert and have all the answers. This was reinforced in an activity where teams were reflecting on what they wanted to start doing as well as what they wanted to stop doing to lead change, one group's response stood out to me: "Stop feeling like we need to be experts!" This expectation of "leader as the expert" is not only unfair but prevents us from being open about what we don't know and working with others to solve the challenges that exist to make change a reality in so many contexts. Instead as Brene Brown shares, "Across the private and public sector, in schools and in our communities, we are hungry for authentic leadership - we want to show up, we want to learn, and we want to inspire and be inspired. We are hardwired for connection, curiosity, and engagement.

This is true across all levels of education but the irony is that although we crave this authenticity in leaders, we are also hard wired to protect our ego and this can prevent us from actually taking risks and admitting that we don't know it all, which can create tension between what we say and what we do. Nobody is perfect and there are times when we don't measure up but if we can be authentic and open to learning and growing with those we serve, we can collectively achieve much more than if we assume we have all the answers.

Here are 3 examples of authentic leaders whose actions inspire others to admit mistakes, take risks, learn from challenges, and share their learning process.
Lead by Example
One of the most authentic leadership examples I know is Katie McNamara , superintendent in South Bay Union Elementary School District, who put herself out there in front of teachers, students and principals to better understand the perspectives of her teachers. As the district was working with the Teacher's College Reading and Writing Project to shift their literacy instruction, she led the way by modeling for teachers and trying it out. What I love about Katie though is she didn't strive to make it perfect, she put in the 10 minutes of prep time that she knew teachers would have and worked through some struggles with students. She also reflected and shared what she learned with teachers so they saw her as a learner who truly wanted the best for everyone, not the expert. Katie gained an appreciation for what teachers were dealing with and are able to connect with teachers and principals about their challenges and successes in their reading instruction as they move forward. Katie led by example and although many expected her to be the expert, she gained more from being vulnerable and taking a risk. Her authenticity has enabled her to build stronger relationships and lead more effectively.

A true testament to the impact that Katie has is when one of her teachers shared that she was really excited about trying genius hour. She told the group, "I launched genius hour last week, invited parents in and told them how we could all work together to support the student in their projects." Then she explained how she told the students and the parents that this was new to her and she was learning too. It was awesome to hear how she was taking risks and empowering students while embracing her role as a learner and a leader. Even more powerful than her willingness to put herself out there was that she was sitting with her superintendent and was able to admit she didn't know what she was doing in front of her and was celebrated for trying something new. The example that Katie has set has paved the way for others to take risks and lead by example.
Empower Others to Lead, Not Follow
Another leader that is committed to change the program focussed approach and develop teacher leaders is David Miyashiro . I remember in his first few weeks as the superintendent of Cajon Valley Union School District, he had convened teachers across the district to develop a shared vision and design learning experiences to support the desired shift. A program provider was scheduled for a three-hour session to help teachers better understand the resources and facilitate the design of the projects. About 10 minutes in it was clear that she was disconnected from the audience and not meeting the needs of the group. He recognized that the time would be better spent through the discovery of the resources rather than listening to someone talk about it. He stopped the presenter and redesigned to day to facilitate small groups of teachers to design the projects and explore the resources together. This signaled to teachers that he valued their time and expertise and that they weren't going to learn about how to create better learning experiences by listening to someone tell them what to do, they had to explore, discuss and try some things out.

As a result, the teams of teachers dove into the resources feeling that they were valued and were motivated to create something better. Instead of using the prepackaged curriculum, they leveraged the expertise in the room to remix the ideas and build on what was provided to create learning experiences that were tailored to the students in their community. At the end of the 3 days together, the team was inspired and felt a deep sense of ownership over the work. They were excited to go back to their schools and share what they had developed with the teammates and continue to build off of what they had started. As Terry Grier once told me, "Those who create the work support the work." This shift was the beginning of empowering teachers to lead and he has continued to develop the expertise of teachers to develop more leaders in Cajon Valley.
Open Lines of Communication
You know the people who say my door is always open but you don't ever see it open or feel like you can go in? Opening lines of communication to listen and learn from people is a critical part of being an effective leader. Rather than creating a vision and sharing it with all stakeholders, as Devin Vodicka began the journey in Vista Unified to create a new model for teaching and learning, he intentionally brought people together to explore various models and collectively define what it means to personalize learning. He created multiple avenues for diverse stakeholders to collaborate and learn from each other through the process. Together- leaders, teachers, families, and the community are pushing boundaries and supporting each other to design learning experiences that meet the needs of their unique population.

One by one, each of the leaders shared how they were challenging the status quo- whether it was through creative scheduling, allocating resources, use of space, or what they were using (or not using) for curriculum. As the committee listened and even cheered each other on and nobody got "in trouble", I noticed more sharing and more confidence in their efforts. Students and parents alike spoke up to question ideas too. A community has been established to explore new ideas and support one another along the way. They support one another but will also challenge ideas to continue to innovate to improve student outcomes. "It's sometimes a struggle to work through" and as one teacher told me, "some days it seems as if there is nothing that is worth replicating but I always learn from our challenges." Through collaboration, reflection, and multiple iterations, there are lessons learned that inform next steps in powerful ways.

Authentic leaders n ot only inspire others, but they lead by example. They create more leaders who have the competence and the mindset to step up when necessary, not just follow. Leadership is not having all the answers or having all the power, it is about developing others desire and capacity to move beyond where they have been.

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3 Characteristics of Authentic Leadership that Inspires Innovation

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Although it is impossible to think that one could or should have all the answers, too many of us often feel inadequate when we don't. It is hard to get away from the idea that the teacher, principal, superintendent or whoever is "in charge" should be the expert and have all the answers.

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A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better. - Jim Rohn, American entrepreneur.

Everyone on Samit's team knows that he's "there for them." He checks in with them often to see how they are, and he helps them develop the skills they need to advance their careers, even if this means that they may move on.

Samit also makes an effort to see situations from others' perspectives. He makes decisions with the team's best interests in mind, and ensures that everyone has the resources and knowledge they need to meet their objectives.

As a result of this, his team is one of the most successful in the department, with low staff turnover and high engagement.

Samit is an example of a "servant leader." In this article, we'll explore what servant leadership is, and the advantages it can bring you as a leader. We'll also look at situations where it isn't appropriate.

What Is Servant Leadership?

Robert K. Greenleaf first coined the phrase "servant leadership" in his 1970 essay, " The Servant as a Leader." However, it's an approach that people have used for centuries.

As a servant leader, you're a "servant first" - you focus on the needs of others, especially team members, before you consider your own. You acknowledge other people's perspectives, give them the support they need to meet their work and personal goals, involve them in decisions where appropriate, and build a sense of community within your team. This leads to higher engagement, more trust, and stronger relationships with team members and other stakeholders. It can also lead to increased innovation.

However, servant leadership is problematic in hierarchical, autocratic cultures where managers and leaders are expected to make all the decisions. Here, servant leaders may struggle to earn respect.

Important:

Remember that servant leadership is about focusing on other people's needs - not their feelings. Don't avoid making unpopular decisions or giving team members negative feedback when this is needed.

Also, do not rely on it exclusively - use it alongside styles like Transformational Leadership, where you develop an inspiring vision of the future, motivate people to deliver this, manage its implementation, and build an ever-stronger team.

How to Become a Servant Leader

According to Larry C. Spears, former president of the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, these are the 10 most important characteristics of servant leaders:

1. Listening.

2. Empathy.

3. Healing.

4. Awareness.

5. Persuasion.

6. Conceptualization.

7. Foresight.

8. Stewardship.

9. Commitment to the growth of people.

10. Building community.

Once you've decided to prioritize other people's needs over your own in the long term, you can work on developing your skills in each area. Let's look at how you can do this.

1. Listening

2. Empathy

3. Healing

This characteristic relates to the emotional health and "wholeness" of people, and involves supporting them both physically and mentally.

4. Self-Awareness

You can become more self-aware by knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and asking for other people's feedback on them. Also, learn to manage your emotions, so that you consider how your actions and behavior might affect others.

5. Persuasion

There are many tools and models that you can use to be more persuasive, without damaging relationships or taking advantage of others. You should also build your expert power - when people perceive you as an expert, they are more likely to listen to you when you want to persuade or inspire them.

6. Conceptualization

This characteristic relates to your ability to "dream great dreams," so that you look beyond day-to-day realities to the bigger picture.

7. Foresight

Foresight is when you can predict what's likely to happen in the future by learning from past experiences, identifying what's happening now, and understanding the consequences of your decisions.

You can use tools such as SWOT Analysis and PEST Analysis to think about your current situation and environment, while Scenario Analysis helps you understand how the future could play out. Use the ORAPAPA checklist when you make a decision, to learn from experience and make sure that you've considered all the angles.

Also, learn to trust your intuition - if your instinct is telling you that something is wrong, listen to it!

8. Stewardship

Stewardship is about taking responsibility for the actions and performance of your team, and being accountable for the role team members play in your organization.

9. Commitment to the Growth of People

Servant leaders are committed to the personal and professional development of everyone on their teams.

10. Building Community

The last characteristic is to do with building a sense of community within your organization.

You can do this by providing opportunities for people to interact with one another across the company. For instance, you could organize social events such as team lunches and barbecues, design your workspace to encourage people to chat informally away from their desks, and dedicate the first few minutes of meetings to non-work-related conversations.

Encourage people to take responsibility for their work, and remind them how what they do contributes to the success and overall objectives of the organization.

Tip:

See our article on Leadership Styles to explore popular leadership approaches and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

And see this Expert Interview for a valuable discussion on the misconceptions and realities of servant leadership.

Key Points

You are a servant leader when you focus on the needs of others before you consider your own. It's a longer-term approach to leadership, rather than a technique that you can adopt in specific situations. Therefore, you can use it with other leadership styles such as Transformational Leadership.

You can become a servant leader by working on these 10 characteristics:

1. Listening.

2. Empathy.

3. Healing.

4. Awareness.

5. Persuasion.

6. Conceptualization.

7. Foresight.

8. Stewardship.

9. Commitment to the growth of people.

10. Building community.

Servant leaders are likely to have more engaged employees and enjoy better relationships with team members and other stakeholders than leaders who don't put the interests of others before their own.

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Servant Leadership: Putting Your Team First, and Yourself Second

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A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better. - Jim Rohn, American entrepreneur. Everyone on Samit's team knows that he's "there for them."

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Great Man, Trait, Contingency, Situational, Behavioral, Participative, Management, Relationship

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Why Do Some People Become Great Leaders?

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Why do certain people become great leaders? Leadership theories seek to answer this question and usually fit into one of eight basic types.

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Great leaders use a variety of tools to maximize their impact as leaders. Developing a leadership philosophy can be a helpful practice for establishing a leadership framework. Leadership philosophies often vary depending on the leader's goals and overall approach to leadership.

In this article, we explain what a leadership philosophy is, clarify why they are important, provide a list of examples and share tips for writing your own.

Related: 10 Common Leadership Styles

What is a leadership philosophy?

A leadership philosophy is a structured approach to leading others. Leaders often write philosophies as a guiding statement for reference while leading a team. Generally, leadership philosophies include the following components:

The structure of a leadership philosophy can vary greatly depending on the goals and needs of the leader. Some statements are as short as a sentence while others are a page or more in length. As they are highly personalized documents, any length or structure is fine for a leadership philosophy.

Related: 15 Leadership Qualities That Make a Great Leader

Why review leadership philosophy examples?

Leaders can benefit from reviewing leadership philosophy examples to see what elements they would like to include in their own philosophy and which elements they can do without. Additionally, reviewing examples of leaders in their industry or leaders who inspire them can help leaders adjust their philosophies to better emulate those they admire.

Related: 15 Questions to Ask Other Leaders for Career Growth

List of leadership philosophy examples

Leadership philosophies hinge on the type of leadership the writer uses. Democratic leadership, for example, yields a different framework and philosophy for the practitioner than autocratic leadership. Use these leadership philosophy examples, organized by leadership type, to help define your own leadership philosophy:

Democratic leadership philosophy

Autocratic leadership philosophy

Laissez-faire leadership philosophy

Strategic leadership philosophy

Transformational leadership philosophy

Transactional leadership philosophy

Democratic leadership philosophy

Democratic leadership depends on the whole team to make decisions. While the leader may depart from the team's input occasionally, they almost always ask for and consider the thoughts and opinions of everyone involved.

Here is an example of a democratic leadership philosophy:
I believe everyone should participate in the process. I intend to share responsibility with my team. I will respect my team, listen to their ideas and inspire them when needed. I will behave with empathy, thoughtfulness and kindness.
Autocratic leadership philosophy

Autocratic leadership situates all the decision and implementation power on the leader. The team is there to execute the leader's practices and processes, and the leader does not consult them during the decision-making process.

Here is an example of an autocratic leadership philosophy:
I believe I am best suited to make decisions and lead the team. I intend to inspire and lead through action. I will provide my team with instruction and action to meet the needs of the company. I will behave with decisiveness, authority and power.
Laissez-faire leadership philosophy

Laissez-faire leadership gives equal power to the team and the leader. In fact, the leader will often give little guidance to their team and will instead allow them to work how and when the team feels they need to. Instead, the leader focuses on high-level matters rather than managing the day-to-day operations of their team.

Here is an example of a laissez-faire leadership philosophy:
I believe my team knows what's best. I intend to trust them to make excellent decisions and meet their own needs. I will give guidance if it's asked for, but otherwise, I will focus my attention on high-level projects. I will behave with honesty and trust.
Strategic leadership philosophy

Strategic leadership divides the leader's focus between high-level operations and team oversight. Strategic leaders maintain individual responsibility for executive operations, but they still offer guidance and structure for their team.

Here is an example of a strategic leadership philosophy:
I believe everyone on the team has a specific duty. I intend to maximize the work product of everyone on the team. I will provide guidance while also managing high-level company needs. I will behave with integrity, honesty and decisiveness.
Transformational leadership philosophy

Transformational leadership focuses on constantly evolving and establishing new benchmarks and goals. Leaders devote their time to establishing goals and pathways to success for their team. The transformational leader spends their time developing new practices and processes to improve the overall work product.

Here is an example of a transformational leadership philosophy:
I believe constant change is the only pathway forward. I intend to motivate my team through goal-setting and overcoming challenges. I will provide guidance and inspiration to improve the team's performance constantly. I will behave with charisma, drive and passion.
Transactional leadership philosophy

Transactional leadership depends on a series of incentives to motivate employees to reach goals. Leaders establish pre-determined prizes or rewards if their team meets a goal and then gives them the space to complete the project.

Here is an example of a transactional leadership philosophy:
I believe my team will respond to incentives. I intend to motivate my team with a set reward and then let them work on their own. I will offer guidance if the team needs it, but I trust them to complete the work as they see fit. I will behave with trust and honesty.
Related: 10 Ways to Build Effective Leadership Behaviors

Tips for writing a leadership philosophy

Use these tips to help craft your own personal leadership philosophy:

Make it actionable. Make sure your philosophy will help guide your daily actions and decision-making. Keep the language clear and actionable.

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Leadership Philosophy Examples to Help You Write Your Own

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Great leaders use a variety of tools to maximize their impact as leaders. Developing a leadership philosophy can be a helpful practice for establishing a leadership framework. Leadership philosophies often vary depending on the leader's goals and overall approach to leadership.

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Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal. Learn common characteristics and how they compare to managers.

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This article explores "how servant leadership, transactional leadership, and emotional leadership compare to transformational leadership."

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Spread the loveThere are four major styles of leadership which apply well in the educational setting. While each of these styles has its good points, there is a wide berth of variation, and in fact, transformational leadership is truly an amalgamation of the best attributes of the other three.

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6 Steps to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence | Ramona Hacker | TEDxTUM

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https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/ei-quiz.htm