Leadership Skills
Although leadership is often invested in or expected of persons of formal authority—such as a project director—leadership encompasses a set of functions that may be performed by different people in different roles throughout the school district and community partnership organizations.As the initiative evolves, leadership should be shared across your partnership as partners take ownership of the initiative’s goals and outcomes. In addition, the requirement of an active SS/HS partnership responsible for overseeing the initiative creates shared project management.
As a leader for change, the project director will also act as the overall leader for the change process that the SS/HS Initiative sets in motion. Kouzes and Posner found five key leadership practices used by leaders regardless of their context (Kouzes & Posner, 20023), as follows:
- Modeling the Way: Leaders set goals that enable partners to experience small wins as they work toward larger goals.
- Inspiring a Shared Vision: Leaders create enthusiasm and commitment among partners to embrace the common vision by appealing to their personal visions, values, and interests.
- Challenging the Process: Effective leaders take risks and see mistakes as opportunities for learning and growth.
- Enabling Others to Act
- Encouraging the Heart: Leaders recognize contributions and celebrate accomplishments.
