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Pathways to Building Leadership Capacity

152 Lake Tahoe Place, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2J 4B7, LCSlater{at}cbe.ab.ca]

Within the complex working of today's schools, as principals share the lead and the load, the success of their performance will be determined by their ability to inspire a culture of empowerment by acting as `hero-makers' rather than heroes. Drawing on the resources of others is essential for the site-based breakthroughs or change in complex school systems and in turn builds human capacity and self-knowledge. In order to develop human potential, the leader needs to know people well, look for strengths in individuals, and build upon them. Effective communication is instrumental in establishing collaborative relationships and is a key aspect of building leadership capacity in a school. These relationships provide the framework within which we come to understand and value each other's experiences, interests, and dreams. In this article, I will discuss the findings of a study that describe how principals used communication strategies and skills to foster the empowerment of other stakeholders within the context of collaborative initiatives. The findings from this qualitative focus group study involving principals, parents and teachers demonstrate that leaders can use several communication techniques to encourage shared leadership and thereby to build human and organizational capacity.

Key Words: collaboration • communication • empowerment • leadership • relationships

Educational Management Administration & Leadership, Vol. 36, No. 1, 55-69 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1741143207084060


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