ERIC Number: EJ1070994
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2155-9635
EISSN: N/A
Identity Crisis: A Leader's Image Is Worth a Thousand Words
Barton, Craig; Dereshiwsky, Mary I.
International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation, v4 n3 Jul-Sep 2009
There is a short supply, yet tacit demand, for creative and effective communication training for educational leaders. A field of literature indicates that a leader's identity is a potent communication tool. A leader's image can frame expectations for followers, symbolically evoking a family of concepts and patterns of meaning (receiving). The mindset of the transformational leader is politically recognizing that he or she either defined or be defined. Research suggests that many educational leaders resist creative and effective symbolisms and that communication training is unsatisfactory. Eighty-three percent of study participants communicated their vision and/or mission through role modeling (sending), i.e., walking the talk. Paradoxically, 68 percent of these participants didn't know of or express interest in their identity as perceived by their target audiences; hence, the identity crisis and mindset are addressed in this study.
Descriptors: Professional Identity, Instructional Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Communication Skills, Administrator Effectiveness, Creativity, Principals, Superintendents, Boards of Education, Stereotypes, Culture Conflict, Administrator Education, Interviews, Surveys
NCPEA Publications. Web site: http://www.ncpeapublications.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A