What
makes an effective leader?
It was
interesting to discuss what makes a good leader. As a group we decided that the
following qualities are important:
- Having charisma and being inspiring
- Being a good role model
- Having strong interpersonal skills
- Being dynamic and having the ability to
empower others
- Good communication
- Being driven towards clear goals
Kolb
Learning Style Inventory
From
participating in the Kolb Learning Style Inventory, I learned how different
learning styles can impact on leadership styles. After some initial scepticism,
I was surprised to find that the results were a fairly good representation of
my leadership, and most importantly, areas for development. According to the
inventory, my learning style is Balanced Converging. Having a balanced learning
style means that you are comfortable with a variety of learning modes. People
with a converging style are best at finding practical uses for theories. They
have the ability to solve problems and make decisions. They are very practical
and would rather deal with technical problems than social and interpersonal
issues. This does speak some truth for me. I am very much a practical person. I
enjoy creating new formats, systems and solutions to improve efficiency both in
the classroom and for leadership tasks. In terms of being less inclined to deal
with the social and interpersonal aspects of leadership, I am often guilty of
just doing things myself rather than sharing them with my team. I need to trust
and invest more in others. Completing the inventory has made me more aware
of this and it will now become one of my next steps towards becoming a stronger
leader.
Leadership
Challenge
I have
considered several ideas for the challenge and have decided on my action plan.
When looking at my Reception cohort I have identified a gap in attainment for
disadvantaged pupils in Personal, Social and Emotional Development. In order
for these pupils to achieve the Good Level of Development at the end of Early
Years Foundation Stage, they will need to make significant progress in this
area. Not only is this important for raising attainment for the EYFS but also
to ensure that these pupils have the right social and emotional skills to
become part of the wider school community.
