Ok, so there are a number of different leadership styles that can be employed. Some of them are a bit negative, like just telling people to get on with it and stop complaining (authoritative), but can be pretty useful in a tight situation. Over the long term you need to employ more positive strategies such as 'coaching','affiliative', or if you can manage it, 'inspirational'.
The advice is that we should be using a range of these strategies depending on the individuals involved and the situation of the organisation. I can't say I've seen many leaders who really manage to lead in this way however. Most seem to adopt one or two and stick with them regardless of the situation. It is interesting to watch the leadership styles in evidence around me having done the reading, but I feel like I know too much and have become more cynical as a result. Every time my Principal praises everybody I sit there thinking about how he always uses the affiliative style. I've only been at the school for a term but I've already become a bit immune to it. How can you know when praise is genuinely given if everyone and everything receives the same praise all the time?
The assignment asked us to describe practical ways in which we could work with leaders displaying these different styles. I found this difficult as all the reading was about being a leader, not dealing with leaders. I have done some reading about how to impress Principals as a TL, but I haven't seen anything about what to do if your Principal is an authoritative leader. To be honest, most of the reading that has been provided feels as though it is aimed at those training to be a Principal, not a TL.
However, it is quite interesting to reflect on my own leadership styles as a teacher. Occasionally (maybe more than that) I catch myself simply telling the children what to do. I can now reflect more successfully on whether I am offering them an inspirational vision or on whether I am helping them to see the path to success as a coaching leader.
