thoughts on classical leadership

The tenets of classical leadership include the following:

1.    .  Leaders should have formal authority and overarching roles.

2.     Leaders have superior expertise and information.

3.     Leaders manage a rational system of management that takes into account structures, routine, outcomes, personnel and action.

4.      Leaders control students and staff (educational setting) or all employees.

     My initial impression of these set ideas of leadership is what one has been established as a model for many years.  On closer examination, these beliefs appear to be outdated.  While I do agree with the principle of the first and the third ideas of leadership, the second and the forth concept would not seem to be productive in today’s schools.

      The concept of leaders having authority over those in their building I completely agree with.  In any workplace there should be one who presides over others.  With the multitude of tasks and decisions to be made in the school setting, the leader needs to have the capability to exercise that ability to make the executive decision.

     The idea that leaders have superior expertise and information is a concept that looks good in theory.  However in the school setting, it is unrealistic to expect that the leader would have all the answers.  In a school, there a large number of specialized areas that a leader likely would not have had direct experience in.  A good leader would inquire from those who are specialized in areas or have direct experience in areas. 

     Proficient leaders do have to manage the enormous task of managing and being held accountable for events and personnel in their building.  The difficult task occurs when structure breaks down, and action needs to occur.

     Finally, the principal the idea that leaders ‘control’ students and employees, is one that perhaps is somewhat unrealistic.  Rather than using the idea of control, I feel a good leader should lead by example, setting guidelines and expectations.