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I find that there are several characteristics and skills involved in being a leader. Some

characteristics are acquired and some people are just born with. These are what some consider

the main characteristics.

1. A leader must be a Visionary, that is looking to the future and in some degree or another

being able to forecast the future and plan ahead for the future. Being a coach for severalyears, I have learned that in building a sports program one must always look at the big

picture. In order to have a winning program you must plan for the future. That means

recruit for the future, plan on improving your facilities, So that once the program is set inplace, it will continue to grow and be successful even after the coach is gone.

2. A leader is also Action Oriented...that is more than just someone who muses about

things. More than someone who comes up with ideas and schemes, somebody who can

make things happen. That's what you always hear, we want somebody who can makethings happen. The experience that I have with this is, after getting my first teaching job,

I was very familiar with what should be going on in a middle school PE class. I did not

hesitate in getting the gym and all of the classes in order so that all students would be safe

and could enjoy PE. A leader doesnt sit around and wait for someone else to dosomething. They make it happen.

3. Leaders must also be Courageous, they have to be to one degree or another a risk takerbecause if you don't take risk you don't do anything new. And so the world looks for

people who have a measure of courage. As a coach I have taken too many risks. The

majority have worked in my favor, but a few times it has cost me. A leader cannot beafraid to step on toes and hurt feelings. As long as it is done with the best interest of the

students, so be it.

4. A leader has to be Energetic. High energy people are often called a Type A personality,

driven kind of people. If you are enthusiastic about what you are doing, it will rub off onthe people around you. Im always excited about most of the things that pertain to the

team and the students in my class. In my k-2 classes, the kids take on my demeanor. IfIm happy and excited, so are they.5. Next, a leader must be Objective Oriented rather than people oriented because if they

are stuck on people they will allow their relationships with people and the fear of

alienating people or hurting people or making people feel bad or terminating people ormoving people to thwart their efforts, if they're objective oriented than people simply

play a role in achieving the objective and they will move those people at whatever pace

and in whatever direction the object that they're chasing calls for. This is one of the first

rules of coaching. I have thought this way since the first time I roamed the sideline. Thejob of a coach is to lead his team to victory. That is the objective. I have told my teams in

the past that we will do what it takes to win even if that means upsetting parents, the

opposing team, and or administration. As long as it is done with class and doesntphysically hurt someone, the objective must be met.

6. Finally, the typical strong natural leader sees himself or herself as Indispensable. They

live with the illusion and sometimes in some cases, that without them the whole systemthat they're a part of is very likely to come down. I say that about myself all the time.

Without me, this team doesnt stand a chance. I have to say in some cases this is true. I

was coaching a team in 2008 that hadnt won a game since October 2006 and hadnt

scored more than 12 pts. Since 2005. As soon as the head coach let me call the plays we

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won three games in a row and averaged 28pts per game. Since I left the team they have

only won one game and now they average 8pts. A game. Maybe it was me?

When dealing with children you have to give off an Ora that the children want tofollow. I give off that Ora and children seem to gravitate towards me. In becoming a

principal, I would like the faculty and staff to gravitate towards me also. If your students, co-

workers, or employees believe in you, it is very easy to lead them.

Criteria for Balanced Leadership1

Responsibilities The extent to which

the principal

Yes No Remarks

Culture Fosters shared beliefsand a sense ofcommunity andcooperation

x

Order Establishes a set ofstandard operating

procedures androutines

x

Discipline Protects teachers fromissues and influencesthat would detract fromtheir teaching time orfocus

x

Resources Provides teachers withmaterials andprofessionaldevelopment necessaryfor the successful

execution of their jobs

x

Curriculum, Instruction,Assessment

Is directly involved inthe design andimplementation ofcurriculum, instruction,and assessmentpractices

x

Focus Establishes clear goalsand keeps those goalsin the forefront of theschools attention

x

Knowledge of

curriculum, instructionassessment

Is knowledgeable about

current curriculum,instruction andassessment practices

x

Visibility Has quality contact andinteractions withteachers and students

x

Contingent rewards Recognized andrewards individual

x

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accomplishments

Communication Establishes strong linesof communication withteachers and amongstudents

x

Outreach Is an advocate and

spokesperson for theschool to allstakeholders

x

Input Involves teachers in thedesign andimplementation ofimportant decisions andpolicies

Affirmation Recognizes andcelebrates schoolaccomplishments andacknowledges failures

Relationship Demonstrates anawareness of thepersonal aspects ofteachers and staff

Change agent Is willing to and activelychallenges the statusquo

Optimizer Inspires and leads newand challenginginnovations

Ideals/beliefs Communicates andoperates from strongideals and beliefs aboutschooling

Monitors/evaluates Monitors theeffectiveness of schoolpractices and theirimpact on studentlearning

Flexibility Adapts his or herleadership behavior tothe needs of the currentsituation and iscomfortable with dissent

Situational awareness Is aware of the detailsand undercurrents inthe running of theschool and uses thisinformation to addresscurrent and potentialproblems

Intellectual stimulation Ensures that faculty and

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staff are aware of themost current theoriesand practices andmakes the discussion ofthese a regular aspectof the schools culture

Reference:1. Waters, T., Marzano, R.J., McNulty, B., Balanced Leadership: what 30 years of research tells us aboutthe effect of leadership on student achievement. (2003). McREL