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The Shared Leadership Initiative

Heather LaMore

Education Department, Grand Canyon University

EAD-533 Developing and Empowering Instructional Leaders

Catherine Cisar

March 20, 2024

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Measurable Criteria

While there is a varied set of skills needed for each leadership role, there are a number

of qualities that each leader must possess. Above all else, they need to be dependable and

accountable. These can be measured by attendance and ability to meet deadlines. No matter

how much a person may say they are interested in being elevated to a leadership position, if

they are missing a great deal of workdays, they cannot be counted on to be present in a

leadership role. A solid history of meeting deadlines is a quantifiable indicator of one’s

accountability. As a leader, they will need to set timelines and assure their team meets the

deadlines to stay on track. If they cannot meet deadlines in their current position, it is

reasonable to assume they may not meet them as a team leader.

Communication skills are also a key attribute that a leader must possess. This skill is a

bit more difficult to measure, but data can be obtained through observation, interviews, and

surveys. Through my own interactions with the potential leader, observing their

communication with other stakeholders, and by interviewing and surveying colleagues and

parents I can gain enough data to determine if they are an effective communicator.

Finally, they must want the position. Should I identify a candidate who is dependable,

accountable, and has excellent communication skills, they may not even be interested in taking

on the additional responsibility. It is vital to appoint someone that has the desire to be a

leader.

Protocol

Setting clear expectations for each leadership position is the major piece to setting

protocol for assigning any candidate. When seeking to fill a new position, it should be posted
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with a full list of duties and the expected time commitment required. This will increase the

likelihood that potential applicants are seeking out the position being full informed of what the

position entails. They need to be aware that being a leader in the building will require them to

collaborate and communicate honestly and effectively with their colleagues. Their application

alone speaks to their commitment to supporting the school and a desire to make things better.

Professional development in effective leadership will be a required piece as well. Finally,

regular meetings with the school administrator will provide opportunity for the leader to

request and receive support in addition to reporting their group’s progress.

Strategies

The most effective teams are those that become cohesive and gain a sense of trust in

one another. Once the leader has been appointed and a team established, it is important that

members get to know one another through a variety of means. While setting goals and

expectations are crucial, it is just as important to conduct teambuilding exercises. The point of

these exercises should be to learn why each person wanted to be a member of that team in the

first place, as well as some personal stories of experiences that can support the team. Next,

they should work towards establishing structure and expected protocol for their meetings.

Then the team will establish their goals and breakdown the ways in which they will set out to

achieve those goals. It is important that the leader keep the support of their team in the

highest of priorities throughout the school year. Continued team building exercises and

expressions of support will aid in the maintenance of a cohesive team.