Benchmark: Leadership Style and Philosophy 1

Benchmark: Leadership Style and Philosophy

LaShondra Evans

Grand Canyon University: EAD 501-0500

July 22, 2020

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Leadership behaviors is one of the most influential factors of a school’s culture and

academic success. Which leadership style is the most effective for teacher’s academic success

which ultimately affects student’s success? There is not one type of leadership style that works

one hundred percent of the time for every situation. In fact, research shows that transactional,

transformational, and servant leadership have benefits and dissatisfactions in the educational

setting.

Transactional Leadership

Transactional leadership is a leadership style that consists more of telling the staff what to

do and reacting when something is not accomplished. This is because transactional leadership

focuses on results. Transactional leadership monitors both individual and team performance.

These performances are used to predict errors and make corrective measures based upon these

predictions. When the leader’s wishes are met, it can result in rewards or certain positions

(Ebrahimi, Chamanzamin, Roohbakhsh, Shaygay, 2017). This statement makes me question this

style of leadership for the simple fact of potential biases. If the leader has wishes or demands that

are not in the best interest of the students or the campus, how is this leadership effective? If a

subordinate has a different perspective on a task than a transactional leader, then they will not be

rewarded even if they are effective because it does not follow leader’s wishes. As a leader, I

want to give positive reinforcement for a job well done, therefore, I can agree with that piece of

transactional leadership. This is something that I value and that I want to practice as a leader.

The only downfall, in my opinion, is that only the people that are compliant and get the job done

correctly are rewarded, leaving everyone else to the side. This is not good practice as a leader

because this can potentially build a culture of resentment for those not being rewarded. It can

also create a culture of “yes men” which will damper authentic ideas and opinions. Teachers will
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be reluctant to be creative and take risk on trying new things. With transactional and

transformational leadership always being compared together, transformational leadership seems

more conducive to educational settings.

Transformational Leadership

Transformational leadership is very common in the education field. Different research

findings show more positive effects through this leadership style in education. The leader plays a

key role in measuring the environment, providing instructions, and guiding employees

(Ebrahimi, Chamanzamin, Roohbakhsh, Shaygay, 2017). Unlike transactional leadership,

innovation and sharing of knowledge is encouraged with transformational leadership. The leader

has a charismatic role that motivates and inspires the staff which results in the staff performing

beyond their specified duties. According to Thomas, Tuytens, Devos, Kelchetermans, and

Vanderlinde (2020), with transformational leadership, the principal is directly related to the

teacher’s attitude of their job in a positive way. Transformational leadership has a lot of

characteristics that I consider valuable. I believe this leadership style is affective because every

member is working together towards a common goal based on a vision and mission. One thing

that I question with this leadership style is the possibility of an individual being overlooked

because the focus is on the group. An individual that is going above and beyond expectations or

one who is doing the bare minimum may fly under the radar.

Servant Leadership

Servant leadership focuses on the need of the organization rather than producing greater

results. Instead of controlling employees, the servant leader strives to meet the needs of each

person which yields extraordinary results (Palta, 2019). When an individual feels that they have a

voice in the organization, they are more committed to that organization. Palta (2019) also
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suggests that and individual can drive themselves more effectively than the leader can. My

values align with everything that deals with the servant leadership style. I strive to lead with a

servant heart. I question if this leadership style is ever taken as a weakness instead of a strength

because the leader is doing all of the serving. As I continue my journey towards educational

leadership, I become more aware of my own values and characteristics as a leader.

Philosophy

I have been able to refine my own values as an educator with a new consciousness about

leadership and having a growth mindset. I believe that if I grow myself as a leader, then those

around me will grow as well. I strive to be a servant leader and lead with a Christ-like heart and

follow Jesus Christ’s example of servant leadership. I have to cater to the needs of my staff and

not my own personal needs. For example, I will do this by not providing a one size fits all

professional development. As the staff changes and grows, the needs of the campus will change.

Each person has individual needs and as a group altogether. A servant leader should bring value

and a voice to the people that they leading. It’s vital that each person on campus has voice

because this brings buy-in and ownership to all stakeholders. Another valuable leadership

characteristic that is important to me is working together towards a common goal, a trait of the

transformational leadership style. It’s very important to collaborate together as a team because

everyone on the team has a different perspective for decision making. As a leader, it’s essential

to set goals, both individual and together as a group. This will allow a more in-depth look at each

teacher’s talents and interest to offer leadership opportunities or special projects. Although

transactional leadership is not as effective in the educational field, I find the leadership trait of

maintaining routines useful to demonstrate during daily routines.

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Overall, my leadership style is one of a servant leader with characteristics of a

transformational leader. I also agree that some of the transactional leadership skills are necessary

for the daily routines of a school day. Effective leadership is not just one style of leadership, but

a combination of the different types of leadership. I value a collective voice working together for

a common purpose while achieving individual goals. I feel that an effective leader should lead

with ethical actions and a servant heart. This leads to a personal quote that describes my new

motto as I begin my journey to educational leadership, “Grow yourself and those around you will

grow or go.” I say this because as a leader, you should continuously seek to grow and improve in

all aspects of yourself. Those who don’t have the same beliefs will either adapt their beliefs or

find a place in which they share the same beliefs. There’s a fit for every stakeholder in education.
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References

Ebrahimi, P., Chamanzamin, M. R., Roohbakhsh, N., & Shaygan, J. (2017). Transformational
and transactional leadership: Which one is more effective in the education of employees'
creativity? Considering the moderating role of learning orientation and leader gender.
International Journal of Organizational Leadership, 6(1), 137+. Retrieved from
https://link-gale-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A491032706/AONE?
u=canyonuniv&sid=AONE&xid=57fdd4c2

Thomas, L., Tuytens, M., Devos, G., Kelchtermans, G., & Vanderlinde, R. (2020).
Transformational School Leadership as a Key Factor for Teachers’ Job Attitudes during
Their First Year in the Profession. Educational Management Administration &
Leadership, 48(1), 106-132.

Palta, A. (2019). Examination of Teachers’ Perceptions about Servant Leadership and

Organizational Commitment. International Education Studies, 12(4), 36-41.

Leadership Theory and Practice 8th Edition. (2019). Chapter 9 &10. Peter G. Northouse.