Page 8 - Leadership Basics Educative Leadership

2. Cultural Leadership

Cultural leaders do not see schools as traditional enterprises, but as institutionalised ‘inquiring’ or
learning systems. Schools are seen as communities of learners, or ‘learning communities’. Cultural
leadership is about developing a strong, cohesive organisational culture.

All organisations — especially schools whose ‘product’ is people - must have a solid cultural base.
This entails holding a strong sense of self and having organisational values and beliefs, in order to
grow, change and continuously improve.
Strong cultural leaders are able to develop a culture in which risk taking is seen as acceptable and in
which staff trust each other and feel supported by the school. This encourages leaders to engage in
innovative approaches and adopt new knowledge.
Cultural leadership as a dimension of school leadership is not new, but as old as the history of
schools themselves. The role of the village Headmaster or village teacher, always encompassed a
cultural element in European and Asian history. They, alongside the minister or monk, were
responsible for passing on the traditions and history of the region to the next generation. They
maintained a sense of ‘what is right’ and what was possible, from when to sow crops to whom one
could marry.
Today, cultural leadership recognizes that culture is the glue that holds a school together. A positive
school culture contributes to student success. The principal plays a big role as cultural leader but
cannot do so without the support of his or her mid level leaders. School culture affects every aspect
of the school - from leading with a strong and positive vision to creating a safe, appreciative, and
respectful school climate.

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