This basic qualitative research study examined teacher perceptions of characteristics of effective instructional leadership. The purpose of the study was to determine what instructional leadership styles teachers identified as having the most impact on improving their own instructional skills. Previous research on instructional leadership has shown a gap in the teacher's perspective on the leadership styles they find most effective in helping them to learn. Eleven teachers with five or more years' experience working under at least three different principals participated in a semi structured interview research design. This qualitative study explored teacher perceptions of the leadership qualities of their principal. The results showed that effective instructional leaders are principals who possess strong characteristics of both transformational and situational leadership.