LEADERS IN A SCHOOL SETTING

ABDON D. AGUILAR

What are the traits of a successful leader, especially in a school setting? Of course, he should possess certain traits or qualities that would make him a good leader. These traits will help maximize the resources in his environment and the talents of people in the organization.

To be a successful leader, one should have a “positive” attitude, especially towards changes in his environment. In a school, changes are always inevitable. Not only is a good leader committed to change, but he must also encourage this among his subordinates.

After all, only the organization or school that embraces change can grow and pr osper.

A step towards this direction is hiring competent people who will run the school. These people should be knowledgeable, experts and specialists in their respective fields.

A leader also “belongs” to other groups, and as part of these groups, he should encourage discussions as a means of dealing with problems. All those who should be part of the discussions should be the ones who will participate in making the final decisions.

A successful school leader also gives orders that clearly state who is to do what, when and how. There should be clarity in the orders to avoid confusion and duplication of tasks.

A good leader also recognizes the hard work of his staff. He praises them when needed and shows interests in their endeavors. By doing this, he helps them grow in their work.

When his subordinates need assistance, a good leader is there to help. He helps when it is needed. This way, his staff responds and become efficient and productive.

When managing crises, his head is always in the game. He should not show any sign of weakness, because a lot of people are looking up to him for guidance. Also, he should obey all the rules that he expects his people to follow. How can they trust him otherwise?

While he should obey all the rules, he should also be willing to take risks, which is an important part of leadership and management. It is better to act than to wait and do nothing.

He should also be a good listener, so he may find out what is going on in the school and immediately address any signs of possible trouble.

He also seeks to “involve” stakeholders in decision-making in school. These decisions will one way or the other affect them so he needs to build their trust and support.

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The author is Teacher III at Teacher-in-charge, Sapang Bato National High SchoolSHS