Therapeutic Leaders Role In Initiating Change

Achieving a school district’s mission and vision requires the commitment of its stakeholders. In order to involve them in the process, it is necessary for educational leaders to “motivate staff, parents, students, board and community members” (Educational Leadership Constituencies Council, 2002, p. 4). The transformational leadership theory emphasizes the importance of educational leaders acting as role-models in order to motivate and inspire the school community. This approach has the potential to involve all stakeholders, leading to increased student success (Bush, 2007). The Assistant Director of Special Education in Northwest ISD directly supervised the school district’s assessment staff. Her education, experience, and passion set an example for her subordinates, stimulating them to achieve more, leading to her promotion to Executive Director of Student Services.

The researchers reviewed related educational peer-reviewed literature, as it pertained to their study. They reviewed literature topics related to transformational leadership, best practices of educational leadership, strategies for improved school culture, and leadership styles and its impact on teacher morale. The researchers identify in their review of the literature characteristics of “true” transformational leadership to include a leader’s ability to “lead by example and have the ability to articulate goals of the organization which

There are many models of leadership that exist across a range of fields (e.g. social work, education, psychology, business, etc.). The ability to transform an organization successfully requires a different set of attitudes and skills. Transformational leadership is an approach where a leader utilizes inspiration, charisma, individualized attention, and intellectual stimulation with their employees (Iachini, Cross, & Freedman, 2015, p. 651). Transformational leadership helps to clarify organizational vision, inspires employees to attain objectives, empowers employees, encourages employees to take risks, and advocates the seeking of alternative solutions to challenges in the workplace (Transformational Leadership, 2015). It allows the leader to engage and motivate each follower identify with the organization’s values and goals.

Despite the many challenges I face daily, remembering that I significantly influence the lives of each my students will help me in becoming a better teacher leader. Reason and Reason (2011) states that a mission will not come to fruition without ownership and ownership cannot be stimulated without consistently reminding everyone why they come to work each day. It is my mission every day to transform lives in my classroom and school environment. I have chosen a career in education because I believe that it is one of the most important functions performed in our culture. I believe that teachers individually and collectively have the ability to not only change the world but to improve it.

Servant leadership is key- Educational leaders must have the interests of the children as their main concern. Hall’s use of fear to achieve results created a bigger problem within the school district rather than solving it. Listening to teachers’ difficulties and working directly with those inside individual schools will help leaders identify and solve problems, as Errol and Castarphen have done and will continue doing.

There are several leadership skills that are needed to run an effective and therapeutic group. The primary skills are cutting off; drawing out; and holding, shifting, and deepening the focus (Jacobs, 2016). As the group moves into the middles stage sessions other skills can be beneficial for the leader (Jacobs, 2016). These skills include use of progress reports, introducing topics, inspiring thoughts, changing the format, varying the style of leadership, restructuring the group, varying the tone of voice, utilization of resources and projects, meeting one on one with the members, and communicating with the group prior to the groups ending (Jacobs, 2016). This skill can aid in creating an environment that is both valuable and meaningful

Leadership is an essential component of a schools’ success or failure. Learning By Heart, by Ronald S. Barth provokes teachers and administrators to reflect on their practices and contributions to their school. Roland Barth offers us different viewpoints on educational reform from his own experiences in education from being a public school teacher and principal to being a Harvard University faculty member. He mentions how school improvement and restructuring will come from within every teacher and administrator not from any program because “schools are not capable of improving themselves”.

Inspiration build trust and motivation. This quality can be considered one of the qualities that fall in with a Transformational leader. According to Nelson (2014), a transformational leader are more emotionally, ideologically and identity charged. The effect on an employee can be that the employee now understands what it takes to become a leader as they move through the organization. Once a leader finds their leader hip structure it is important to understand that as societies change the leader may have to make adjustments.

There are several leadership skills that are needed to run an effective and therapeutic group. The primary skills are cutting off; drawing out; and holding, shifting, and deepening the focus (Jacobs, 2016). As the group moves into the middles stage sessions other skills can be beneficial for the leader (Jacobs, 2016). These skills include use of progress reports, introducing topics, inspiring thoughts, changing the format, varying the style of leadership, restructuring the group, varying the tone of voice, utilization of resources and projects, meeting one on one with the members, and communicating with the group prior to the groups ending (Jacobs, 2016). This skill can aid in creating an environment that is both valuable and meaningful experiences (Jacobs, 2016)

Above all else, I view leadership within the school system as essential for its success. My cumulative experiences provide a strong background that will allow me to excel as a school leader. I possess an understanding of the challenges and intricacies of a wide variety of school systems, ranging from small rural programs to inner-city and sub-urban high schools to research universities. My experience teaching at the college level gives me a unique perspective that will allow me to guide a program aimed at cultivating high school students capable of excelling in their educational endeavors. In addition, I believe that to be a truly successful leader, one must have a clear understanding of the challenges faced by educators. My years as a high school teacher have provided me a keen perspective in this regard. University of Northern Colorado’s Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Program will be an invaluable avenue for me to learn from experienced educators as I hone my leadership abilities with the goal of using my life to lead improvements in the public education system. I look forward to the opportunity to develop as an educator,

Educational leadership involves implementing changes which can be difficult when those one leads are resistant. Overcoming that resistance to bring about change creates benefits for students and the entire school community; unfortunately, there is no universal way to avoid resistance to change from all involved (Marion & Gonzales, 2014, p. 197). Further research could be done within an individual school

The concept of transformational leadership and contingency theory (Chance, 2009) resonated with me for this tenet because it involves “engagement between leaders and followers bound by common purpose” (Chance, p. 94) and the importance of strong open communication between leader and followers in addition to the interactions with other systems that are internal or external. As a school leader, it is essential that I not only see where the school is now, but likewise develop a shared vision between all stakeholders within the school community on where we would like to see it in the future and on how to get there by setting clear, specific goals through collaboration. It is vital to foster participation in school decisions, which embodies participatory leadership. Encouraging participation in school decisions from staff, parents, students and the community at large will require that I, as an effective school leader, to be a good listener, communicator, motivator and collaborator as well as lead by example. According to DuFour and Marzano (2011), “Through their actions and words, effective leaders convey their conviction in their personal efficacy and the collective efficacy of those the

Transformational leadership. Burns (1978) is recognized as one of the earliest theorist on transformational leadership, who introduced transformational leadership over 30 years ago. Transformational leaders are perceived as leaders who uplift their employee morale, subsequently uplifting the entire organizational. Transformational leaders are known by their capacity to inspire followers to forgo self-interests in achieving superior results for the organization (Clawson, 2006). Avolio and Yammarino (2002) shared Bass’s explanation of transformational leadership as leaders who act as agents of change that stimulate, and transform followers’ attitudes, beliefs, and motivate from lower to higher level of arousal.

Change catalyst. Leaders, who are adept in catalyzing change, are capable of recognizing the necessity for change, challenge the social and political issues, and support the new command. If faced with barriers during change, they find practical ways to overcome the obstacles. Although, the team’s morale is at rock bottom, my supervisor has done absolutely nothing to change it. Regrettably, he is not adept in discovering ways to overcome challenges within his own team nor does he seem to care. Consequently, he would not be an ideal advocate for change considering his failure to understand and overcome obstacles concerning his team.

As defined by Katzenbach (1995), change leadership is “the process whereby individuals who lead initiatives that influence dozens to hundreds of others to perform differently—and better—by applying multiple leadership and change approaches.” Leadership alone is defined as setting a direction and developing the strategies necessary to move in that direction – that is, creating and achieving a vision – leadership is thus a process to do with change (Kotter 1999). Change leadership is critically important to the continuing success of organizations everywhere. Tennant Company understands and invests in change leadership by employing a Sr. Organization Development Manager named Annelise Larson, M.B.A. whose efforts includes setting direction, developing strategies, and leading initiatives through organizational change efforts. An interview was conducted with Annelise Larson to discuss and learn about her change leadership abilities. For the purposes of this paper, the interview questions will be shared, a summary will be provided, and five recommendations are made for Annelise Larson as a change leader.