Post-modern Leadership: Transformation of Truth into Meaning

FRANZ LAWRENCE C. SENAPILO

Criticisms on educational leadership have led to numerous calls for school leaders to rethink how they enact their roles and how they structure the organizations within which they work. The shift of perspective to post-modern leadership strategies lead us to transform how leadership in the educational parlance is worked out.

The post-modern model offers few clues to how leaders are expected to operate within their organization. Some key features of the model includes: language does not reflect reality; there are multiple realities; any situation is open to multiple interpretations; and every situations must be understood at the local level with particular attention to diversity.

Our complex society requires us to think critically. It is through critical thinking that a paradigmshift is introduced. As a post-modern leader we are brought to the realization that there is no monopoly of truth rather, a relativity of truth. What is true for one may not be true for all. Same is true for leadership and management for there is no one-size-fits-all model. As post-modern leaders, we do not change members to fit them into the system. We alter the system accordingly to fit all the members. This may sound a herculean task but the truth is all members create their own meaning and all of them contribute in the collective quest for meaning.

Respect for others the paramount trait of a post-modern leader. The diverse and individual perspectives of members only mean the multiplicity of subjective truths. If the leader respects this setup it already the transformation of truth into meaning. To transform truth is to celebrate individuality and diversity and find meaning in it. Once we realize that we have been moving all along within the circle of meaning, there remains only one significant move left for us – break out of the circle.

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The author is Teacher III at Mabalacat National High School