Educational Leaders Urged to Embrace Compassion for Innovation
Educational leaders are urged to reassess their leadership systems to foster innovation and learning. A new book, 'The Secret to Transformational News', co-authored by Quintin Shepherd and Angela Murphy, highlights the shift towards compassionate language and transformational leadership.
Traditional competency-based language may not inspire success. Instead, compassionate language promotes collaboration and effectiveness. Transformational leadership drives positive changes by investing in each member's success.
Compassionate leadership involves valuing differences, frequent face-to-face contact, commitment to equality, clear roles, and a strong team. Relationships between leaders and followers should be based on influence and mutual intentions. Leaders must understand their thought processes and move away from competency-based language to embrace compassionate language fully.
To achieve this, a four-part communication framework (why, who, how, what) is essential. Leaders should focus on interactions between individuals, not just individuals, to master the new language of leadership. A growth mindset and new leadership skills are crucial for high achievement and academic success in schools. The 'lone wolf' leader is outdated; leadership is now seen as an influence relationship between leaders and followers who intend fundamental changes.
Educational leaders must reevaluate their systems to inspire, support, and collaborate for transformative learning and innovation. By embracing compassionate language and transformational leadership, they can foster positive changes and high achievement in schools.
