Page 5 - Leadership Basics 3

Foreword

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when school management became more than just the principal and
deputy. However, somewhere in the industrial age the role of principals changed from command
leadership ('command and control') to team leadership and the importance of productive teams was
born. Today, mid‐level school leaders working together in leadership teams ‐ and as leaders of their
own teams ‐ have become an integral part of the operation of schools.

As a mid‐level leader you will have already been a key player in many teams; therefore, we are

aware that most of you can teach us a thing or two about teamwork. For instance, we are sure that
most of you, as experienced teachers, can list a variety of reasons that can cause a team to become
dysfunctional. Unfortunately, many mid‐level leaders are not fully aware of what makes a good,
productive team. It’s like leadership itself: we can all recognise good leaders but it is often hard to
define what it is that makes them so.

This reading is about improving the capacity of school leaders at all levels to work in, and lead,
productive teams. After providing a very brief background to team leadership, this reading will
describe a framework on which mid‐level leaders can model their work in developing effective teams.
Following the framework, mid‐level leaders will have the opportunity to sharpen their team skills by
exploring a series of case studies or scenarios about teamwork. The purpose of the booklet is to help
enhance the capacity of mid‐level leaders to work in and lead productive teams.

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