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Earlier, we discussed why having a leadership philosophy is essential. The importance is based on Character, Consistency, and Collaboration. Understanding the value may be the easy part. The challenge is in taking the time to develop your leadership philosophy and then use it.

The process to develop a leadership philosophy may vary by individual. Developing one is the key so don't get bogged down in the process. Use a process that works for you. Again, the important element is to begin and write a leadership philosophy.

To recap, a philosophy is "a theory or attitude held by a person or organization that acts as a guiding principle for behavior." Several components are evident within this definition:

A theory: Serves as a basis for how we act. Theories evolve as new information is processed and we learn from our experiences.

An attitude: Attitude is about mindset. Leaders embrace a mindset to influence others in positive ways so meaningful results can be achieved.

Guiding principles: Principles are the beliefs we hold close, keeping us grounded and centered in how we lead in.

Behavior: Behavior is where our actions come together to match our words and our words match our actions. Behavior is where trust is gained or lost.

Step 1: Select an admirable leader

One of the first things you might want to do is identify someone you admire as a leader. This person can be a historic figure or a current one leading a company, community, or university. Political leaders are options, too. Identify what you admire about this person. Be specific.

What traits make them stand out?

What have they done or are doing to be an admirable, respected leader?

What type of working relationships have they built?

What are their exceptional leadership attributes and imperfections?

Understand what you like about their leadership style and results and why you admire them. Use these elements as a basis for developing your own leadership philosophy. The objective is to not mimic them but learn from them and then apply those lessons learned to your leadership philosophy.

Step 2: Define your theory, attitude, principles, and behavior

Each component needs to be thought through and defined. The process does not need to be complex but it does need to be thoughtful. To begin the development process, highlighted below are key statements to complete for each component.

Theory:

I believe ____________________________.

Take the time to think through 3 to 5 leadership elements you believe to be true in your heart and soul. For you, these elements are irrefutable right here, right now. Based on your experiences to date, you believe these 3 to 5 elements to be critical to leading effectively and productively. By belief I mean, these are elements you believe to be true about people, culture, and community.

Just start writing. Don't over-think it. Just write until nothing else comes to mind. Now, review, consolidate, eliminate. Focus on the 3 to 5 that resonate most within your heart and soul.

For example:

I believe open, respectful collaboration can solve any problem.

I believe excuses and rationalizations are just being lazy.

Attitude:

My thoughts will ___________________________.

My words will _____________________________.

What is your general attitude in the workplace and in your neighborhood? What type of words do you use most often? What type of good thoughts do you think about when working with others or when preparing for a meeting? As you put yourself in this frame of reference, write out your statements. After you have several written down, read through them and discern what each say about your desired attitude. Write down your attitude attributes.

For example:

My thoughts will focus on what is possible even when things seem impossible.

My words will try to encourage everyone to do their best and spark a laugh when appropriate.

Principles:

I will lead by/with ___________________________.

What is non-negotiable? What are your imperatives? To be a stellar leader, what needs to shine brightly and fully in working with others, making decisions, and holding all accountable.

For example:

I will lead by always trying to do my best in whatever I do.

I will lead with empathy - listening attentively, seeking to understand, and leveraging the experience and talents of others fully.

I will lead with learning mindset, knowing that situations change, people change, and learning equals growth.

Behavior:

I expect to _________________________ in _________________________ situations.

Behavior is where your leadership philosophy gets tested. Behavior determines whether your leadership philosophy is just a bunch of lofty words to be used in team meetings or visible in your everyday actions. Identify what you expect your behavior to be, given your theories, attitude, and principles. Think through success and failure. Think through achievements and tough challenges.

For example:

I expect to respond rather than react in challenging situations.

I expect to focus on the process to understand and change in challenging situations.

Step 3: Check your leadership philosophy

After you think each through and write out your responses, the next step is to go have a conversation with people around you and ask them how they would answer each of the questions:

What do you think I believe?

What do you think my attitude is in good and challenging times?

How do you think I lead?

In good and challenging situations, what did my behaviors say about my leadership?

Test drive your leadership philosophy, ensuring how you want to lead matches with how you actually lead. This doesn't mean you need to lower the bar of your leadership philosophy. The opposite, in fact. Understand the work ahead and the possibilities of leading fully within your philosophy.

I never developed a leadership philosophy when I was 20 something. I wish I had. I would have been a stronger leader and learned more about myself and others along the way. It is never too late to begin.

Some parts of a leadership philosophy are intuitive to who we are. Thinking through what type of leader we want to be and how we want to lead will make us a better leader. More importantly, in those difficult times, having a leadership philosophy will keep us centered in moving forward as well as within the right boundaries when temptations arise.
What suggestions would you add to develop a leadership philosophy? What value do you see in having a leadership philosophy?

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Earlier, we discussed why having a leadership philosophy is essential. The importance is based on Character, Consistency, and Collaboration. Understanding the value may be the easy part. The challenge is in taking the time to develop your leadership philosophy and then use it. The process to develop a leadership philosophy may vary by individual.

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April 2018 | Volume 75 | Number 7
Learning to Write, Writing to Learn Pages 86-87

Thomas R. Hoerr

In an era of rancor and polarization, let's foster empathy in our schools.

I worry that we are losing the ability to disagree without being disagreeable. Sure, people have always had different beliefs, but in today's Balkanized climate it seems that positions harden quickly, and people aren't interested in understanding the perspectives of others. Too often we live in philosophical silos. Whenever there's a difference of opinion, people-adults and children-choose to interact with those who support and reinforce their biases.

This is apparent in the online interactions posted in response to newspaper articles and in the language used on political panels and talk radio. Too many people are quick to judge and even to call names. Our schools aren't immune to trends in society, and chances are that these rancorous attitudes have seeped into your school. It's probably obvious in both the student cafeteria and at faculty meetings.

We have no control over what is said in the media, but we cannot accept this tone in our schools. We need to create a school climate in which everyone consciously works to listen and understand others' perspectives. Doing this is about more than creating a pleasant environment; it's about teaching students what they will need to succeed. Yes, we must ensure that our graduates achieve scholastically, but that's not enough. Our students need to be prepared to succeed in life-and an important piece of that is the ability to work with and appreciate others. We could all benefit from greater empathy, and we should work to develop it in our schools.

Listening and Learning

Empathy is understanding and appreciating the perspectives of others. It's not just feeling sorry for someone or even working to help them. Empathy comes from listening and learning about others' situations and feelings in order to understand their perspectives. It's seeking to understand values and rationales, going beyond "What do they think?" to " Why do they think that?" Having empathy for others doesn't necessarily mean that you take their perspective; it does mean that you understand why they feel that way. And having empathy leads to caring.

Increasing empathy at your school begins with enlisting others who will become allies in change. Convene a small group of teachers and ask them if they see a need for greater empathy within your school community. I'm sure they'll see the need for this with their students, so you'll get agreement and support. Then, together, you can plan a professional development session that focuses on empathy.

Getting There

You might set aside time at a faculty meeting for such a session. Begin by distinguishing between empathy and sympathy. These similar words have quite different meanings; because having empathy involves working to appreciate others' thinking, it goes beyond having sympathy. Present a few controversial topics-such as implementing Common Core standards or assigning homework on weekends. Ask participants to think of three reasons that might be behind someone's support for or opposition to each practice. Then, in small groups, have people compare their speculations with the actual reasons given by those who hold supporting or opposing views. The goal (which you'll need to state and, likely, restate) isn't to change minds, but to offer a forum for folks to explain why they hold their beliefs-and for others to listen and learn.

Lead the faculty in a discussion about how this activity could be done with students. What topics would be relevant? You might also discuss ways to build empathy while delivering lessons. For example, in literature and history, teachers typically focus on events, plot, and protagonists. To develop empathy, we should also spend time investigating why people acted as they did. What factors determined Huckleberry Finn's values, or those of Augie Pullman's classmates in the novel Wonder? In history, learning about people wrongly accused of crimes and questioning what caused this scapegoating-such as studying the Salem witch trials-might be effective.

And consider community service activities, which some of your students may already do. If these activities are to foster empathy, they should lead students to learn about the causes for the adverse conditions their service is addressing, consider how the recipients might feel, and speculate on how students themselves might feel if the situations were reversed.

Devoting Time and Focus

It's important to allocate time for faculty to explore and develop their empathy. As I wrote in The Formative Five (ASCD, 2016), "We'll never be perfect, and neither will our students, but we do need to be role models-and we must model not only values and skills, but also the thoughtful and transparent pursuit of them." And it's important to explain your focus on empathy to students and parents so they can understand its value. Empathy should become part of everyone's vocabulary. Consider putting signs or reminders around the school to share the empathy work that's happening and why it's important. Or have a faculty committee look for evidence of students' empathy and somehow celebrate that evidence on the walls and in the halls of the school.

Reading together texts that address race and poverty in the U.S. can lead to empathy-fostering discussions. Among others, I recommend Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson (Speigel & Grau, 2014), Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward (Scribner, 2017), or You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie (Hachette, 2017).

Finally, empathy begins with you. Take a few minutes to plan several ways you can communicate your empathy to students and the faculty. How can you visibly show that you've made efforts to learn what others are thinking and appreciate their perspectives? Can you share what you've learned that is helping you understand others? Doing this won't be easy. But increasing the empathy in your school is worth the effort.

Thomas R. Hoerr is an education consultant, emeritus head of school at the New City School, and a teacher at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is the author of The Formative Five: Fostering Grit, Empathy, and Other Success Skills Every Student Needs (ASCD, 2016). Follow him on Twitter.

KEYWORDS

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Building Empathy in Schools - Educational Leadership

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April 2018 | Volume 75 | Number 7 Learning to Write, Writing to Learn Pages 86-87 Thomas R. Hoerr In an era of rancor and polarization, let's foster empathy in our schools. I worry that we are losing the ability to disagree without being disagreeable.

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5 Characteristics of a Great School Principal

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Thinking of becoming a school principal? The job is certainly a big one, but also one that can be extremely rewarding for the right type of person. Learn five characteristics of a great school principal to determine if this career path would be a good choice for you.

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Situational leadership refers to a leader or manager who adjusts his style to fit the development level of the followers he is trying to influence. It is up to the leader to change his style, not the follower to adapt to the leader's style.

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According to Research by asaecenter, leadership style is the way a person uses power to lead other people. Research has identified a variety of leadership styles based on the number of followers. The most appropriate leadership style depends on the function of the leader, the followers and the situation.

Some leaders cannot work comfortably with a high degree of followers' participation in decision making. Some employers lack the ability or the desire to assume responsibility. Furthermore, the specific situation helps determine the most effective style of interactions. Sometimes leaders must handle problems that require immediate solutions without consulting followers.

What are Different Leadership Styles?

We have covered 12 different types of ways people tend to lead organizations or other people. Not all of these styles would deem fit for all kind of situations, you can read them through to see which one fits right to your company or situation.

1. Autocratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership style is centered on the boss. In this leadership the leader holds all authority and responsibility. In this leadership, leaders make decisions on their own without consulting subordinates. They reach decisions, communicate them to subordinates and expect prompt implementation. Autocratic work environment does normally have little or no flexibility.

In this kind of leadership, guidelines, procedures and policies are all natural additions of an autocratic leader. Statistically, there are very few situations that can actually support autocratic leadership.

Some of the leaders that support this kind of leadership include: Albert J Dunlap (Sunbeam Corporation) and Donald Trump (Trump Organization) among others.

2. Democratic Leadership

In this leadership style, subordinates are involved in making decisions. Unlike autocratic, this headship is centered on subordinates' contributions. The democratic leader holds final responsibility, but he or she is known to delegate authority to other people, who determine work projects.

The most unique feature of this leadership is that communication is active upward and downward. With respect to statistics, democratic leadership is one of the most preferred leadership, and it entails the following: fairness, competence, creativity, courage, intelligence and honesty.

3. Strategic Leadership Style

Strategic leadership is one that involves a leader who is essentially the head of an organization. The strategic leader is not limited to those at the top of the organization. It is geared to a wider audience at all levels who want to create a high performance life, team or organization.

The strategic leader fills the gap between the need for new possibility and the need for practicality by providing a prescriptive set of habits. An effective strategic leadership delivers the goods in terms of what an organization naturally expects from its leadership in times of change. 55% of this leadership normally involves strategic thinking.

4. Transformational Leadership

Unlike other leadership styles, transformational leadership is all about initiating change in organizations, groups, oneself and others.

Transformational leaders motivate others to do more than they originally intended and often even more than they thought possible. They set more challenging expectations and typically achieve higher performance.

Statistically, transformational leadership tends to have more committed and satisfied followers. This is mainly so because transformational leaders empower followers.

5. Team Leadership

Team leadership involves the creation of a vivid picture of its future, where it is heading and what it will stand for. The vision inspires and provides a strong sense of purpose and direction.

Team leadership is about working with the hearts and minds of all those involved. It also recognizes that teamwork may not always involve trusting cooperative relationships. The most challenging aspect of this leadership is whether or not it will succeed. According to Harvard Business Review, team leadership may fail because of poor leadership qualities.

6. Cross-Cultural Leadership

This form of leadership normally exists where there are various cultures in the society. This leadership has also industrialized as a way to recognize front runners who work in the contemporary globalized market.

Organizations, particularly international ones require leaders who can effectively adjust their leadership to work in different environs. Most of the leaderships observed in the United States are cross-cultural because of the different cultures that live and work there.

7. Facilitative Leadership

Facilitative leadership is too dependent on measurements and outcomes - not a skill, although it takes much skill to master. The effectiveness of a group is directly related to the efficacy of its process. If the group is high functioning, the facilitative leader uses a light hand on the process.

On the other hand, if the group is low functioning, the facilitative leader will be more directives in helping the group run its process. An effective facilitative leadership involves monitoring of group dynamics, offering process suggestions and interventions to help the group stay on track.

8. Laissez-faire Leadership

Laissez-faire leadership gives authority to employees. According to azcentral, departments or subordinates are allowed to work as they choose with minimal or no interference. According to research, this kind of leadership has been consistently found to be the least satisfying and least effective management style.

9. Transactional Leadership

This is a leadership that maintains or continues the status quo. It is also the leadership that involves an exchange process, whereby followers get immediate, tangible rewards for carrying out the leader's orders. Transactional leadership can sound rather basic, with its focus on exchange.

Being clear, focusing on expectations, giving feedback are all important leadership skills. According to Boundless.com, transactional leadership behaviors can include: clarifying what is expected of followers' performance; explaining how to meet such expectations; and allocating rewards that are contingent on meeting objectives.

10. Coaching Leadership

Coaching leadership involves teaching and supervising followers. A coaching leader is highly operational in setting where results/ performance require improvement. Basically, in this kind of leadership, followers are helped to improve their skills. Coaching leadership does the following: motivates followers, inspires followers and encourages followers.

11. Charismatic Leadership

In this leadership, the charismatic leader manifests his or her revolutionary power. Charisma does not mean sheer behavioral change. It actually involves a transformation of followers' values and beliefs.

Therefore, this distinguishes a charismatic leader from a simply populist leader who may affect attitudes towards specific objects, but who is not prepared as the charismatic leader is, to transform the underlying normative orientation that structures specific attitudes.

12. Visionary Leadership

This form of leadership involves leaders who recognize that the methods, steps and processes of leadership are all obtained with and through people. Most great and successful leaders have the aspects of vision in them.

However, those who are highly visionary are the ones considered to be exhibiting visionary leadership. Outstanding leaders will always transform their visions into realities.

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According to Research by asaecenter, leadership style is the way a person uses power to lead other people. Research has identified a variety of leadership styles based on the number of followers. The most appropriate leadership style depends on the function of the leader, the followers and the situation.

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A few years ago, leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators created companies, whereas managers were hired to run their operations. But, nowadays, you will notice that our educational system is mostly geared towards business management education. Also, there is a perceptual change that treats both management and leadership as the same, which is not a mere reality. So, in this leadership vs management article, we will dig deep into the differences between leadership and management.

What is Leadership?

Leadership is the creation of positive, non-incremental change through meticulous planning, vision, and strategy. Workforce empowerment and adaptive decision-making also add up to the crucial attributes of leadership. Most often, people relate leadership with one's position in an organization. But leadership has nothing to do with titles, management, or one's personal agendas. It's also not restricted to personality traits such as better vision or charismatic personality.

Watch this video to understand the difference between leadership and management.

It is more like a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others toward the achievement of a common goal. It stems from social influence and requires human resources to achieve the intended outcomes. A leader is someone who always takes the initiative and invests a great effort to accomplish the company's vision. That is the only reason why people around them start following them.

Next, in this leadership vs management article, we will discover what management is all about.

Business & Leadership Courses

What is Management?

Management is all about performing pre-planned tasks on a regular basis with the help of subordinates. A manager is completely responsible for carrying out the four important functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Managers can only become leaders if they adequately carry out leadership responsibilities, including communication of good and bad, providing inspiration and guidance, and encouraging employees to rise to a higher level of productivity.

But, unfortunately, not all managers can achieve that. Managerial responsibilities are often outlined in a job description, with subordinates following because of the professional title or classification. A manager's primary focus is on meeting organizational goals; they often do not take much else into consideration. With the title comes the authority and the privilege to promote, hire, or reward employees based on their performance and behavior.

Difference Between Leadership vs Management

The role of management is to control a group or group of individuals in order to achieve a specified objective. Leadership is the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute to the organization's success.

Management is responsible for controlling an organization, a group, or a set of entities to achieve a particular objective. Managing is about making sure the day-to-day operations are being performed as expected. A leader communicates in order to set direction, inspire, and motivate their team.

Leadership requires a vision to guide change. Whereas managers focus on achieving organizational goals through process implementation, such as budgeting, organizational structure, and staffing, leaders are more concerned with thinking ahead and seizing opportunities.

It is possible to be a manager and a leader at the same time. But keep in mind that just because someone is a great leader doesn't mean they'll be a great manager or the other way around. So, what factors distinguish these two roles? Moving ahead in this leadership vs management article, we explore those factors.

1. Differences in Vision

Leaders are considered as visionaries. They set the pathways to excel the organizational growth. They always examine where their organization stands, where they want to go, and how they can reach there by involving the team.

In comparison, managers set out to achieve organizational goals by implementing processes, such as budgeting, organizational structuring, and staffing. Managers' vision is bound to the implementation strategies, planning, and organizing tasks to reach the objectives set out by leaders. However, both of these roles are equally important in the context of business environments and necessitate associative efforts.

2. Organizing vs Aligning

Managers achieve their goals by using coordinated activities and tactical processes. They break down long-time goals into tiny segments and organize available resources to reach the desired outcome.

On the other hand, leaders are more concerned with how to align and influence people than how to assign work to them. They achieve this by assisting individuals in envisioning their function in a wider context and the possibility for future growth that their efforts may give.

Also Read Future Of Work: What Job Roles Will Look Like In 10 Years

3. Differences in Queries

A leader asks what and why, whereas a manager focuses on the questions of how and when. To do justice to their duties as a leader, one might question and challenge the authority to reverse decisions that may not be in the better interests of the team. If a firm has a stumbling block, a leader will be the one to step up and ask, What did we learn from this? and Why has this happened?

On the other hand, managers are not required to assess and analyze failures. Their job description emphasizes asking How and When, which assists them in ensuring that plans are carried out correctly. They prefer to accept the status quo and make no attempt to change it.

4. Position vs Quality

A manager is a role that frequently refers to a specific job within an organization's structure, whereas the term leader has a more ambiguous definition. Leadership emerges as a result of your actions. You are a leader if you act in a way that inspires others to do their best. It makes no difference what your title or position is. On the other hand, a manager is a job title that comes with a fixed set of responsibilities.

What are the Similarities Between Leadership and Management?

There are many ways in which management and leadership are comparable. Both require establishing objectives, coming up with strategies to get there, and tracking the development. Both demand collaboration with others, effective communication, decision-making, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and accountability in order to succeed. Managers and leaders are responsible for gathering data, weighing options, and making decisions that will benefit their team or company. Additionally, they must accept accountability for their deeds and be open and honest about them. In general, effective leadership and management require a combination of these skills because they share many essential qualities.

What Do Managers Do?

A manager is a member of an organization with the responsibility of carrying out the four important functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. But are all managers leaders?

Most managers also tend to be leaders, but only IF they also adequately carry out the leadership responsibilities of management, which include communication, motivation, providing inspiration and guidance, and encouraging employees to rise to a higher level of productivity.

Unfortunately, not all managers are leaders. Some managers have poor leadership qualities, and employees follow orders from their managers because they are obligated to do so-not necessarily because they are influenced or inspired by the leader.

Managerial duties are usually a formal part of a job description; subordinates follow as a result of the professional title or designation. A manager's chief focus is to meet organizational goals and objectives; they typically do not take much else into consideration. Managers are held responsible for their actions, as well as for the actions of their subordinates. With the title comes the authority and the privilege to promote, hire, fire, discipline, or reward employees based on their performance and behavior.

What Do Leaders Do?

The primary difference between management and leadership is that leaders don't necessarily hold or occupy a management position. Simply put, a leader doesn't have to be an authority figure in the organization; a leader can be anyone.

Unlike managers, leaders are followed because of their personality, behavior, and beliefs. A leader personally invests in tasks and projects and demonstrates a high level of passion for work. Leaders take a great deal of interest in the success of their followers, enabling them to reach their goals to satisfaction-these are not necessarily organizational goals.

There isn't always tangible or formal power that a leader possesses over his followers. Temporary power is awarded to a leader and can be conditional based on the ability of the leader to continually inspire and motivate their followers.

Subordinates of a manager are required to obey orders while following is optional when it comes to leadership. Leadership works on inspiration and trust among employees; those who do wish to follow their leader may stop at any time. Generally, leaders are people who challenge the status quo. Leadership is change-savvy, visionary, agile, creative, and adaptive.

How to Measure Effective Leadership?

Considering this certain leadership is an individualized and multifaceted concept, measuring successful leadership can be challenging. Assessing employee engagement, turnover rates, and performance metrics are a few typical methods to gauge effective leadership. Effective leaders are adept at fostering a positive work atmosphere and building trusting relationships with their team, which results in high employee engagement levels and reduced turnover rates. A leader's capacity to hit performance benchmarks and realize organizational objectives can also be used to gauge their efficacy. The efficacy of a leader can also be evaluated through regular performance reviews, 360-degree assessments, and feedback from stakeholders and employees.

How to Measure Effective Management?

A number of variables, such as employee satisfaction, productivity, efficiency, and financial performance, can be used to gauge efficient management. High-performing teams should be easy to create and manage, effective delegation of tasks, clear goals and expectations, and the adoption of efficient procedures are all skills that successful managers should possess. A manager's efficacy can be evaluated using key performance indicators (KPIs) like sales figures, customer satisfaction ratings, and production rates. Additionally helpful sources of information about a manager's success include employee feedback, 360-degree evaluations, and routine performance reviews. In the end, a manager should be able to drive outcomes while fostering a good workplace culture and supporting employee growth.

How to Develop Leadership and Management Skills?

There are various methods for honing management and leading abilities. One method is to look for formal education and training programs, such as management development programs or business courses. Another method is to participate in volunteer work, internships, or projects as a leader to gain real-world experience. It can also be helpful to find areas for improvement by asking for feedback from mentors, peers, and colleagues. Developing self-awareness and emotional intelligence can also improve leadership and management abilities. Keeping up with industry trends and networking with other pros can also present chances to pick up new insights and learn from others. Practice, feedback, and continuous learning are essential to developing effective leadership and management skills.

What are the Traits a Manager Possesses?

Below are four important traits of a manager:

1. The Ability to Execute a Vision

Managers build a strategic vision and break it down into a roadmap for their team to follow.

2. The Ability to Direct

Managers are responsible for day-to-day efforts while reviewing necessary resources, and anticipating the need to make changes along the way.

3. Process Management

Managers have the authority to establish work rules, processes, standards, and operating procedures.

4. People Focused

Managers are known to look after and cater to the needs of the people they are responsible for: listening to them, involving them in certain key decisions, and accommodating reasonable requests for change to contribute to increased productivity.

What are the Traits a Leader Possesses?

Below are five important traits of a leader:

1. Vision A leader knows where they stand, where they want to go and tend to involve the team in charting a future path and direction.

2. Honesty and Integrity Leaders have people who believe them and walk by their side down the path the leader sets.

3. Inspiration Leaders are usually inspirational-and help their team understand their own roles in a bigger context.

4. Communication Skills Leaders always keep their team informed about what's happening, both present and the future-along with any obstacles that stand in their way.

5. Ability to Challenge Leaders are those that challenge the status quo. They have their style of doing things and problem-solving and are usually the ones who think outside the box.

The Three Important Differences Between a Manager and a Leader

Being a manager and a leader at the same time is a viable concept. But remember, just because someone is a phenomenal leader, it does not necessarily guarantee that the person will be an exceptional manager as well, and vice versa. So, what are the standout differences between the two roles?

1. A Leader Invents or Innovates While a Manager Organizes
The leader of the team comes up with new ideas and kickstarts the organization's shift or transition to a forward-thinking phase. A leader always has his or her eyes set on the horizon, developing new techniques and strategies for the organization. A leader has immense knowledge of all the current trends, advancements, and skillsets-and has a clarity of purpose and vision. By contrast, a manager is someone who generally only maintains what is already established. A manager needs to watch the bottom line while controlling employees and workflow in the organization and preventing any chaos.

In his book, The Wall Street Journal Essential Guide to Management: Lasting Lessons from the Best Leadership Minds of Our Time, Alan Murray cites that a manager is someone who "establishes appropriate targets and yardsticks, and analyzes, appraises and interprets performance." Managers understand the people they work with and know which person is the best fit for a specific task.

2. A Manager Relies on Control, Whereas a Leader Inspires Trust: A leader is a person who pushes employees to do their best and knows how to set an appropriate pace and tempo for the rest of the group. Managers, on the other hand, are required by their job description to establish control over employees, which, in turn, helps them develop their assets to bring out their best. Thus, managers have to understand their subordinates well to do their job effectively.

3. A Leader Asks the Questions "What" and "Why", Whereas a Manager Leans More Toward the Questions "How" and "When": To be able to do justice to their role as a leader, some may question and challenge authority to modify or even reverse decisions that may not have the team's best interests in mind. Good leadership requires a great deal of good judgment, especially when it comes to the ability to stand up to senior management over a point of concern or if there is an aspect in need of improvement. If a company goes through a rough patch, a leader will be the one who will stand up and ask the question: "What did we learn from this?"Managers, however, are not required to assess and analyze failures. Their job description emphasizes asking the questions "how" and "when," which usually helps them make sure that plans are properly executed. They tend to accept the status quo exactly the way it is and do not attempt a change.

The Three Tests

In the article Three Differences Between Managers And Leaders, Vineet Nayar discusses three tests he devised to help managers decide if they have successfully made the shift from managing people to leading them.

1. Counting Value vs. Creating Value:

Managers are the only ones who count value, he says. There are some who cut down on the value by disabling or otherwise countering ideas and people who add value.
Leaders, however, focus instead on working to generate a certain value that is over and above that which the team creates-and is as much a creator of value as their followers. Nayar goes on to say, "Leading by example and leading by enabling people are the hallmarks of action-based leadership."

2. Circles of Influence vs. Circles of Power: As mentioned previously, managers have subordinates and leaders gain followers, which implies that managers create a circle of power while leaders create a circle of influence. Nayar offers advice on how to identify which circle you have around you. He says, "The quickest way to figure out which of the two you're doing is to count the number of people outside your reporting hierarchy who come to you for advice. The more that do, the more likely it is that you are perceived to be a leader."

3. Leading People vs. Managing People: One responsibility of a manager is controlling a group in order to accomplish a specific goal. Leadership, on the other hand, is the ability of an individual to motivate, influence, and enable other employees to make a contribution to the success of an organization. Inspiration and influence separate leaders from managers-not control and power.

Final Deduction

Leading and managing are two contrasting ways of making employees work together more efficiently. Leadership is a spearhead for the new vision and initiatives, whereas management controls the resources effectively to bring those visions into the realm of reality. With the passing of time, you can shape your leadership skills by developing emotional intelligence and learning how to influence others.

Conclusion

In this leadership vs management article, you learned what leadership and management are all about. You discovered how both work in the context of corporate setup. Later, you went through the differences between leadership vs management. And finally, you dived into the article's deduction.

If you are a working professional who wants to start a management or leadership career by studying for an MBA while still working in a C-suite job. Check out Simplilearn's Professional Certificate Program In Business Analysis, where you will learn how to tackle complex business problems using in-demand tools.

You can also start with MBA with Simplilearn's PGDM program, in cooperation with JAGSOM, which can prepare you to be a business leader. This program provides a number of MBA specializations, including Digital Marketing, Operations, Business Analytics, and Data Analytics. After successful completion of this course, you will earn an accredited management degree. So, go ahead and start exploring!

If you have any questions or need clarification on any section of this leadership vs management article, please leave them in the comments section at the bottom of this page; we will respond to them soon.

FAQs

1. What is the major difference between leadership and management?

Leadership and management are different from each other in many ways, however, the major difference between them is that management is a group of entities that work to accomplish a goal. Whereas, the leadership takes care of motivating, influencing, and empowering employees. Influence and inspiration separate leaders from managers, not power and control.

2. What are the 6 differences between leadership and management?

1. Leaders create a vision, managers create goals.

2. Leaders are change agents, managers maintain their status..

3. Leaders and unique, managers are influenced

4. Leaders take risks, managers evaluate risk

5. It takes time to become a leader, but it is easier to become a manager

6. Leaders create relationships, managers create systems.

3. Which is more important, leadership or management?

Both leaders and managers are important to run a successful business. Leadership ensures the overall values and ethics of the organization, whereas managers structure teams to achieve targets.

4. What is the difference between management and leadership?

Leadership focuses on motivating employees, making them believe in your vision and setting the right work culture at the company. On the other hand, management stresses day-to-day task progress and related issues.

5. Which is better, management or leadership?

Both management and leadership are naturally crucial for the smooth working of an organization. But, leadership is ahead of the management - a well-balanced organizational leadership in the core. Disciple process, vision and passion are essential to building a successful business.

6. What are the two key differences between leadership and management?

The 2 key differences between leadership and management are -

1. Leadership creates values, management counts those values.

2. Leadership leads people, management manages the work people do.

7. What comes first, leadership or management?

Leadership comes first as they drive the organization with their vision.

What is Leadership?

Leadership is the creation of positive, non-incremental change through meticulous planning, vision, and strategy. Workforce empowerment and adaptive decision-making also add up to the crucial attributes of leadership. Most often, people relate leadership with one's position in an organization. But leadership has nothing to do with titles, management, or one's personal agendas. It's also not restricted to personality traits such as better vision or charismatic personality.

Watch this video to understand the difference between leadership and management.

It is more like a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others toward the achievement of a common goal. It stems from social influence and requires human resources to achieve the intended outcomes. A leader is someone who always takes the initiative and invests a great effort to accomplish the company's vision. That is the only reason why people around them start following them.

Next, in this leadership vs management article, we will discover what management is all about.

Business & Leadership Courses

What is Management?

Management is all about performing pre-planned tasks on a regular basis with the help of subordinates. A manager is completely responsible for carrying out the four important functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Managers can only become leaders if they adequately carry out leadership responsibilities, including communication of good and bad, providing inspiration and guidance, and encouraging employees to rise to a higher level of productivity.

But, unfortunately, not all managers can achieve that. Managerial responsibilities are often outlined in a job description, with subordinates following because of the professional title or classification. A manager's primary focus is on meeting organizational goals; they often do not take much else into consideration. With the title comes the authority and the privilege to promote, hire, or reward employees based on their performance and behavior.

Difference Between Leadership vs Management

The role of management is to control a group or group of individuals in order to achieve a specified objective. Leadership is the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute to the organization's success.

Management is responsible for controlling an organization, a group, or a set of entities to achieve a particular objective. Managing is about making sure the day-to-day operations are being performed as expected. A leader communicates in order to set direction, inspire, and motivate their team.

Leadership requires a vision to guide change. Whereas managers focus on achieving organizational goals through process implementation, such as budgeting, organizational structure, and staffing, leaders are more concerned with thinking ahead and seizing opportunities.

It is possible to be a manager and a leader at the same time. But keep in mind that just because someone is a great leader doesn't mean they'll be a great manager or the other way around. So, what factors distinguish these two roles? Moving ahead in this leadership vs management article, we explore those factors.

1. Differences in Vision

Leaders are considered as visionaries. They set the pathways to excel the organizational growth. They always examine where their organization stands, where they want to go, and how they can reach there by involving the team.

In comparison, managers set out to achieve organizational goals by implementing processes, such as budgeting, organizational structuring, and staffing. Managers' vision is bound to the implementation strategies, planning, and organizing tasks to reach the objectives set out by leaders. However, both of these roles are equally important in the context of business environments and necessitate associative efforts.

2. Organizing vs Aligning

Managers achieve their goals by using coordinated activities and tactical processes. They break down long-time goals into tiny segments and organize available resources to reach the desired outcome.

On the other hand, leaders are more concerned with how to align and influence people than how to assign work to them. They achieve this by assisting individuals in envisioning their function in a wider context and the possibility for future growth that their efforts may give.

Also Read Future Of Work: What Job Roles Will Look Like In 10 Years

3. Differences in Queries

A leader asks what and why, whereas a manager focuses on the questions of how and when. To do justice to their duties as a leader, one might question and challenge the authority to reverse decisions that may not be in the better interests of the team. If a firm has a stumbling block, a leader will be the one to step up and ask, What did we learn from this? and Why has this happened?

On the other hand, managers are not required to assess and analyze failures. Their job description emphasizes asking How and When, which assists them in ensuring that plans are carried out correctly. They prefer to accept the status quo and make no attempt to change it.

4. Position vs Quality

A manager is a role that frequently refers to a specific job within an organization's structure, whereas the term leader has a more ambiguous definition. Leadership emerges as a result of your actions. You are a leader if you act in a way that inspires others to do their best. It makes no difference what your title or position is. On the other hand, a manager is a job title that comes with a fixed set of responsibilities.

What are the Similarities Between Leadership and Management?

There are many ways in which management and leadership are comparable. Both require establishing objectives, coming up with strategies to get there, and tracking the development. Both demand collaboration with others, effective communication, decision-making, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and accountability in order to succeed. Managers and leaders are responsible for gathering data, weighing options, and making decisions that will benefit their team or company. Additionally, they must accept accountability for their deeds and be open and honest about them. In general, effective leadership and management require a combination of these skills because they share many essential qualities.

What Do Managers Do?

A manager is a member of an organization with the responsibility of carrying out the four important functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. But are all managers leaders?

Most managers also tend to be leaders, but only IF they also adequately carry out the leadership responsibilities of management, which include communication, motivation, providing inspiration and guidance, and encouraging employees to rise to a higher level of productivity.

Unfortunately, not all managers are leaders. Some managers have poor leadership qualities, and employees follow orders from their managers because they are obligated to do so-not necessarily because they are influenced or inspired by the leader.

Managerial duties are usually a formal part of a job description; subordinates follow as a result of the professional title or designation. A manager's chief focus is to meet organizational goals and objectives; they typically do not take much else into consideration. Managers are held responsible for their actions, as well as for the actions of their subordinates. With the title comes the authority and the privilege to promote, hire, fire, discipline, or reward employees based on their performance and behavior.

What Do Leaders Do?

The primary difference between management and leadership is that leaders don't necessarily hold or occupy a management position. Simply put, a leader doesn't have to be an authority figure in the organization; a leader can be anyone.

Unlike managers, leaders are followed because of their personality, behavior, and beliefs. A leader personally invests in tasks and projects and demonstrates a high level of passion for work. Leaders take a great deal of interest in the success of their followers, enabling them to reach their goals to satisfaction-these are not necessarily organizational goals.

There isn't always tangible or formal power that a leader possesses over his followers. Temporary power is awarded to a leader and can be conditional based on the ability of the leader to continually inspire and motivate their followers.

Subordinates of a manager are required to obey orders while following is optional when it comes to leadership. Leadership works on inspiration and trust among employees; those who do wish to follow their leader may stop at any time. Generally, leaders are people who challenge the status quo. Leadership is change-savvy, visionary, agile, creative, and adaptive.

How to Measure Effective Leadership?

Considering this certain leadership is an individualized and multifaceted concept, measuring successful leadership can be challenging. Assessing employee engagement, turnover rates, and performance metrics are a few typical methods to gauge effective leadership. Effective leaders are adept at fostering a positive work atmosphere and building trusting relationships with their team, which results in high employee engagement levels and reduced turnover rates. A leader's capacity to hit performance benchmarks and realize organizational objectives can also be used to gauge their efficacy. The efficacy of a leader can also be evaluated through regular performance reviews, 360-degree assessments, and feedback from stakeholders and employees.

How to Measure Effective Management?

A number of variables, such as employee satisfaction, productivity, efficiency, and financial performance, can be used to gauge efficient management. High-performing teams should be easy to create and manage, effective delegation of tasks, clear goals and expectations, and the adoption of efficient procedures are all skills that successful managers should possess. A manager's efficacy can be evaluated using key performance indicators (KPIs) like sales figures, customer satisfaction ratings, and production rates. Additionally helpful sources of information about a manager's success include employee feedback, 360-degree evaluations, and routine performance reviews. In the end, a manager should be able to drive outcomes while fostering a good workplace culture and supporting employee growth.

How to Develop Leadership and Management Skills?

There are various methods for honing management and leading abilities. One method is to look for formal education and training programs, such as management development programs or business courses. Another method is to participate in volunteer work, internships, or projects as a leader to gain real-world experience. It can also be helpful to find areas for improvement by asking for feedback from mentors, peers, and colleagues. Developing self-awareness and emotional intelligence can also improve leadership and management abilities. Keeping up with industry trends and networking with other pros can also present chances to pick up new insights and learn from others. Practice, feedback, and continuous learning are essential to developing effective leadership and management skills.

What are the Traits a Manager Possesses?

Below are four important traits of a manager:

1. The Ability to Execute a Vision

Managers build a strategic vision and break it down into a roadmap for their team to follow.

2. The Ability to Direct

Managers are responsible for day-to-day efforts while reviewing necessary resources, and anticipating the need to make changes along the way.

3. Process Management

Managers have the authority to establish work rules, processes, standards, and operating procedures.

4. People Focused

Managers are known to look after and cater to the needs of the people they are responsible for: listening to them, involving them in certain key decisions, and accommodating reasonable requests for change to contribute to increased productivity.

What are the Traits a Leader Possesses?

Below are five important traits of a leader:

1. Vision A leader knows where they stand, where they want to go and tend to involve the team in charting a future path and direction.

2. Honesty and Integrity Leaders have people who believe them and walk by their side down the path the leader sets.

3. Inspiration Leaders are usually inspirational-and help their team understand their own roles in a bigger context.

4. Communication Skills Leaders always keep their team informed about what's happening, both present and the future-along with any obstacles that stand in their way.

5. Ability to Challenge Leaders are those that challenge the status quo. They have their style of doing things and problem-solving and are usually the ones who think outside the box.

The Three Important Differences Between a Manager and a Leader

Being a manager and a leader at the same time is a viable concept. But remember, just because someone is a phenomenal leader, it does not necessarily guarantee that the person will be an exceptional manager as well, and vice versa. So, what are the standout differences between the two roles?

1. A Leader Invents or Innovates While a Manager Organizes
The leader of the team comes up with new ideas and kickstarts the organization's shift or transition to a forward-thinking phase. A leader always has his or her eyes set on the horizon, developing new techniques and strategies for the organization. A leader has immense knowledge of all the current trends, advancements, and skillsets-and has a clarity of purpose and vision. By contrast, a manager is someone who generally only maintains what is already established. A manager needs to watch the bottom line while controlling employees and workflow in the organization and preventing any chaos.

In his book, The Wall Street Journal Essential Guide to Management: Lasting Lessons from the Best Leadership Minds of Our Time, Alan Murray cites that a manager is someone who "establishes appropriate targets and yardsticks, and analyzes, appraises and interprets performance." Managers understand the people they work with and know which person is the best fit for a specific task.

2. A Manager Relies on Control, Whereas a Leader Inspires Trust: A leader is a person who pushes employees to do their best and knows how to set an appropriate pace and tempo for the rest of the group. Managers, on the other hand, are required by their job description to establish control over employees, which, in turn, helps them develop their assets to bring out their best. Thus, managers have to understand their subordinates well to do their job effectively.

3. A Leader Asks the Questions "What" and "Why", Whereas a Manager Leans More Toward the Questions "How" and "When": To be able to do justice to their role as a leader, some may question and challenge authority to modify or even reverse decisions that may not have the team's best interests in mind. Good leadership requires a great deal of good judgment, especially when it comes to the ability to stand up to senior management over a point of concern or if there is an aspect in need of improvement. If a company goes through a rough patch, a leader will be the one who will stand up and ask the question: "What did we learn from this?"Managers, however, are not required to assess and analyze failures. Their job description emphasizes asking the questions "how" and "when," which usually helps them make sure that plans are properly executed. They tend to accept the status quo exactly the way it is and do not attempt a change.

The Three Tests

In the article Three Differences Between Managers And Leaders, Vineet Nayar discusses three tests he devised to help managers decide if they have successfully made the shift from managing people to leading them.

1. Counting Value vs. Creating Value:

Managers are the only ones who count value, he says. There are some who cut down on the value by disabling or otherwise countering ideas and people who add value.
Leaders, however, focus instead on working to generate a certain value that is over and above that which the team creates-and is as much a creator of value as their followers. Nayar goes on to say, "Leading by example and leading by enabling people are the hallmarks of action-based leadership."

2. Circles of Influence vs. Circles of Power: As mentioned previously, managers have subordinates and leaders gain followers, which implies that managers create a circle of power while leaders create a circle of influence. Nayar offers advice on how to identify which circle you have around you. He says, "The quickest way to figure out which of the two you're doing is to count the number of people outside your reporting hierarchy who come to you for advice. The more that do, the more likely it is that you are perceived to be a leader."

3. Leading People vs. Managing People: One responsibility of a manager is controlling a group in order to accomplish a specific goal. Leadership, on the other hand, is the ability of an individual to motivate, influence, and enable other employees to make a contribution to the success of an organization. Inspiration and influence separate leaders from managers-not control and power.

Final Deduction

Leading and managing are two contrasting ways of making employees work together more efficiently. Leadership is a spearhead for the new vision and initiatives, whereas management controls the resources effectively to bring those visions into the realm of reality. With the passing of time, you can shape your leadership skills by developing emotional intelligence and learning how to influence others.

Conclusion

In this leadership vs management article, you learned what leadership and management are all about. You discovered how both work in the context of corporate setup. Later, you went through the differences between leadership vs management. And finally, you dived into the article's deduction.

If you are a working professional who wants to start a management or leadership career by studying for an MBA while still working in a C-suite job. Check out Simplilearn's Professional Certificate Program In Business Analysis, where you will learn how to tackle complex business problems using in-demand tools.

You can also start with MBA with Simplilearn's PGDM program, in cooperation with JAGSOM, which can prepare you to be a business leader. This program provides a number of MBA specializations, including Digital Marketing, Operations, Business Analytics, and Data Analytics. After successful completion of this course, you will earn an accredited management degree. So, go ahead and start exploring!

If you have any questions or need clarification on any section of this leadership vs management article, please leave them in the comments section at the bottom of this page; we will respond to them soon.

FAQs

1. What is the major difference between leadership and management?

Leadership and management are different from each other in many ways, however, the major difference between them is that management is a group of entities that work to accomplish a goal. Whereas, the leadership takes care of motivating, influencing, and empowering employees. Influence and inspiration separate leaders from managers, not power and control.

2. What are the 6 differences between leadership and management?

1. Leaders create a vision, managers create goals.

2. Leaders are change agents, managers maintain their status..

3. Leaders and unique, managers are influenced

4. Leaders take risks, managers evaluate risk

5. It takes time to become a leader, but it is easier to become a manager

6. Leaders create relationships, managers create systems.

3. Which is more important, leadership or management?

Both leaders and managers are important to run a successful business. Leadership ensures the overall values and ethics of the organization, whereas managers structure teams to achieve targets.

4. What is the difference between management and leadership?

Leadership focuses on motivating employees, making them believe in your vision and setting the right work culture at the company. On the other hand, management stresses day-to-day task progress and related issues.

5. Which is better, management or leadership?

Both management and leadership are naturally crucial for the smooth working of an organization. But, leadership is ahead of the management - a well-balanced organizational leadership in the core. Disciple process, vision and passion are essential to building a successful business.

6. What are the two key differences between leadership and management?

The 2 key differences between leadership and management are -

1. Leadership creates values, management counts those values.

2. Leadership leads people, management manages the work people do.

7. What comes first, leadership or management?

Leadership comes first as they drive the organization with their vision.

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Leadership vs Management: Understanding The Key Difference | Simplilearn

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Know the key difference between leadership vs. management. Understand what leadership is, what management is, and their roles. Read on for details.

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My son attends a good public school, one of the few "performance" schools in our district. He's fortunate to have a kindergarten teacher with 20 years of experience in early-childhood development and primary pedagogy. His individualized education program guarantees him support services from professionals with a depth of expertise in special education, psychology, and speech, occupational, and physical therapies. And as a beginning English-language learner, he receives daily language instruction with like peers.

As I reflect on the growth he's made in his first year of American schooling, I believe our decision to open enroll him in the same K-8 school where I teach was the right call.

Being in the same building allows me to juggle my educator and parent advocacy hats: the lines of communication between school and home are wide open, fluid, and frequent. I believe this collaboration has helped my son settle into the routines and expectations of kindergarten.

While I am grateful that school is currently working for my son, I can't help but wonder: Will the supports he's getting now be prioritized as he progresses through the K-12 system?

I've also been thinking a lot about how our school is supporting his development as a whole person-at all ages and stages.

When my pediatrician asked what specifically accounted for my son's improvement and adjustment, I shared that he now receives three movement breaks a day and an afternoon snack before electives. Since he struggles with fine-motor control, he also has push-in support for his most challenging times of the day, including transitions from the playground, writing, and art.

"Three movement breaks and an afternoon snack," she repeated slowly, her voice puzzled. "So, he's getting what every 5-year-old in the class needs?"

Touché.

My son's journey has me reflecting on the benefits of personalized attention, the mind-body connection, and the power of immediate feedback and reinforcement.

But which other children aren't getting what they need at any given moment because my child is spending 1:1 time with the building's sole psychologist or full-time counselor, both of whom have burgeoning caseloads and serve grades K-8?

My school is part of a public education system that prioritizes academic learning over social emotional support. This can result in inequities in our instruction, implicit bias, and institutional racism in our hallways and classrooms.

When I dream of the school my son deserves-the school all children deserve-it includes some distinct features and resources currently lacking or underfunded in our school and too many other schools across the country.

Here are five features I believe every public school needs:

1. Competency-based education vs. traditional grade levels: Part of my son's early struggles stemmed from a gap between his chronological age and his developmental needs. It's time to move beyond grade-level progressions based on grouping students by age to competency-based education and personalized learning that allows for more fluidity and flexibility. Such practices are still the exception instead of the norm, despite the fact that our classrooms are crowded with unique individuals who exhibit a range of needs.

2. An emphasis on noncognitive factors and social-emotional needs: Recent headlines have focused on increasing safety measures in schools to curtail future tragedies too common in a post-Columbine world. Much of the mass media chatter has centered on security (and even arming teachers) but falls short of exploring how to proactively meet students' noncognitive needs. The challenges students (and staff) encounter in schools today extend beyond daily teaching and learning. Until all schools understand that we must proactively focus on the whole person, including with training on trauma-informed practices, social-emotional supports, and mental health issues, our schools will continue to treat symptoms instead of finding cures.

3. Family and community partnerships: In too many places, school is still done to students instead of with students. We must actively involve students and families in our schools and engage with the community. The work of schools is too big to undertake without partnering with families and community-based resources. We must work to ensure parents and families see themselves as advocates in their children's learning-not bystanders. As an educator, I'm in a unique position to advocate for my son's education; however, a parent should not have to be an "insider" in our system to learn how to navigate it and be an active participant in her child's education. Teachers are experts in facilitating learning, but families are experts in their children's strengths and growth areas and can help us reach all students at their point of need.

4. Authentic assessment and learning portfolios: I've written before about reframing assessment to include the types of information and data that support students, teachers, and parents with a broader snapshot of student growth. The time has come to look beyond standardized assessments to determine school effectiveness and student learning. We value what we measure, but what we currently measure is narrow in comparison to the well-rounded education and experiences students need and deserve.

5. Culturally responsive pedagogy: Given what we know about the importance of relationships, academic mindset, and the diverse needs of our student population, schools of the future must focus on creating culturally relevant classrooms through curriculum, pedagogy, and an emphasis on actively addressing institutional racism and system inequities. In the words of Zaretta Hammond, author of the book Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, "Our task as culturally responsive teachers is to help [students] shift their mindset by helping them create a powerful counter narrative about who they are as learners."

Becoming a parent and seeing school through my son's eyes has fundamentally changed how I teach and informed my next steps for professional growth. I need to learn more about the adolescent brain, the mind-body connection, and ways to truly personalize learning for each student.

In the meantime, all public school educators share a responsibility to serve a dual role as parent and community advocates-committed to creating the schools all our sons and daughters deserve.

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Clarification: This essay has been updated since it was published.

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Dreaming of the School My Students, My Son, and All Children Deserve

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My son attends a good public school, one of the few "performance" schools in our district. He's fortunate to have a kindergarten teacher with 20 years of experience in early-childhood development and primary pedagogy. His individualized education program guarantees him support services from professionals with a depth of expertise in special education, psychology, and speech, occupational, and physical therapies.

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The more that you, as a leader, manage each of these areas, the higher your emotional intelligence. So, let's look at each element in more detail and examine how you can grow as a leader.

Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

1. Self-awareness

If you're self-aware, you always know how you feel, and you know how your emotions and your actions can affect the people around you. Being self-aware when you're in a leadership position also means having a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses, and it means behaving with humility.

So, what can you do to improve your self-awareness?

Keep a journal. Journals help you improve your self-awareness. If you spend just a few minutes each day writing down your thoughts, this can move you to a higher degree of self-awareness.

2. Self-regulation

Leaders who regulate themselves effectively rarely verbally attack others, make rushed or emotional decisions, stereotype people, or compromise their values. Self-regulation is all about staying in control.

This element of emotional intelligence, according to Goleman, also covers a leader's flexibility and commitment to personal accountability.

So, how can you improve your ability to self-regulate?

Hold yourself accountable. If you tend to blame others when something goes wrong, stop. Make a commitment to admit to your mistakes and to face the consequences, whatever they are. You'll probably sleep better at night, and you'll quickly earn the respect of those around you.

Practice being calm. The next time you're in a challenging situation, be very aware of how you act. Do you relieve your stress by shouting at someone else? Practice deep-breathing exercises to calm yourself. Also, try to write down all of the negative things you want to say, and then rip it up and throw it away. Expressing these emotions on paper (and not showing them to anyone!) is better than speaking them aloud to your team. What's more, this helps you challenge your reactions to ensure that they're fair!

3. Motivation

Self-motivated leaders work consistently toward their goals, and they have extremely high standards for the quality of their work.

How can you improve your motivation?

Re-examine why you're doing your job. It's easy to forget what you really love about your career. So, take some time to remember why you wanted this job. If you're unhappy in your role and you're struggling to remember why you wanted it, try the Five Whys technique to find the root of the problem. Starting at the root often helps you look at your situation in a new way. And make sure that your goal statements are fresh and energizing. For more on this, see our article on Goal Setting.

4. Empathy

For leaders, having empathy is critical to managing a successful team or organization. Leaders with empathy have the ability to put themselves in someone else's situation. They help develop the people on their team, challenge others who are acting unfairly, give constructive feedback, and listen to those who need it.

If you want to earn the respect and loyalty of your team, then show them you care by being empathic.

How can you improve your empathy?

Respond to feelings. You ask your assistant to work late - again. And although he agrees, you can hear the disappointment in his voice. So, respond by addressing his feelings. Tell him you appreciate how willing he is to work extra hours, and that you're just as frustrated about working late. If possible, figure out a way for future late nights to be less of an issue (for example, give him Monday mornings off).

5. Social Skills

Leaders who do well in the social skills element of emotional intelligence are great communicators. They're just as open to hearing bad news as good news, and they're experts at getting their team to support them and be excited about a new mission or project.

Leaders who have good social skills are also good at managing change and resolving conflicts diplomatically. They're rarely satisfied with leaving things as they are, but they don't sit back and make everyone else do the work: they set an example with their own behavior.

So, how can you build social skills?

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Emotional Intelligence in Leadership - Learning How to Be More Aware

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Relating to others is vital in today's workplace. Learn how to build your emotional intelligence (EI) with this article.

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daniel goleman emotional intelligence - Yahoo Video Search Results

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