Module 5 :: Dealing with Conflict

Conflict and the School Leader: Novice or Expert

http://www2.education.uiowa.edu/archives/jrel/spring03/Johnson_0204.htm

This article contains valuable insights into how principals can look at their own behavior and determine whether they are unwittingly adding fuel to the fire of conflict. From the abstract: "School principals devote a significant portion of their time to dealing with conflict. Principals who look for the sources of these conflicts may find that many of them reside in the principal’s own interpersonal behaviors, which may be products of their leadership skills. Four important leadership variables related to the amount of conflict are conflict response styles, problem solving, communicator styles, and bases of social power."

5 Keys to Dealing with Workplace Conflict

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2012/02/22/5-keys-to-dealing-with-workplace-conflict/
Right off the bat I'm not sure I agree with the author's statement: "Here's the thing: leadership and conflict go hand-in-hand." Initially I dismissed his ideas as overly confrontational and aggressive (he starts with the sports metaphor  leadership is a "full contact sport" egad...) But then he goes on to make some very valid points about the necessity of dealing with conflict rather than ignoring it. I wonder if there is a very different slant to this article because it's a Forbes piece written primarily for private sector managers? Still, much to mull over here for principals. The next article by Ken Leithwood and Michael Fullan couldn't be more different...

In Conversation: 21st Century Leadership Moving Forward

http://www.michaelfullan.ca/media/13557615570.pdf
"When it comes to deep divisions, resolution and empathy must be combined if change is to occur.” Fullan 2011
This article is lengthy and covers a great deal of ground, but a considerable portion deals with relationships and learning through conflict. Fullan and Leithwood purport that impressive empathy is having compassion for people who disagree with you. They might be angry or obstructionist but your ability as a leader to understand where their point of view is coming from is truly impressive. It’s easy to empathize with those who agree with us. It’s difficult (hence the “impressive” part) to really acknowledge and understand (but not necessarily agree) with those whose views differ from our own. An angry parent isn’t likely angry just to make my day as a principal miserable. They have a concern about their child. They might be experiencing anxiety, guilt, frustration etc and by empathizing with them through the conflict I can learn about them and their student and build trust.

Module 4 :: Resource Management

Aligning Resources with Priorities

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/leadership/IdeasIntoAction12.pdf
Is it too reductionist to say "follow the money" when it comes to school resources management? Maybe, but if leaders aren't choosing to spend scarce funds on what they identify as priorities in their school improvement plan, then something is amiss. It's all about alignment. This article form the Ontario Ministry of Education's Ideas into Action series is peppered with common sense, solid research and clear action steps. Simply throwing money at school problems doesn't solve them, but carefully allocating resources to maximize student learning bears fruit. A significant section of the article is devoted to unpacking the Public Education Leadership Framework (PELP) model with its goal of "connecting the instructional core with a district-wide strategy for improvement."

Improving School Leadership: The Toolkit

http://www.oecd.org/education/school/44339174.pdf
The OECD developed an international multi-year school leadership improvement initiative. This toolkit is a practical guide that stakeholders can use to assess school needs and goals. There are helpful activities (with suggested timelines) that staff at the school, FOS or board level can use to align resources with priorities. The section on Strategic Resources Management (human and financial) provides opportunities for conversations about key resource management questions:

Edutopia Blog Beat - Administrators

http://www.edutopia.org/blogs/beat/administrators
This collection of blog posts for principals contains lots of support and inspiration on how to manage a school's most important resource, its teachers. 10 Steps for Avoiding Teacher Burnout and Don't be Afraid to Give Direct Feedback are among the dozens of insightful articles by principals in the field. A great resource to subscribe to for a fresh infusion of inspiration in your inbox. All in?