“A Leader in School is the one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way to the fellow mates.“

We all aspire to become a leader someday. Being a good leader is an art, an attitude, an intuition which needs to be cultivated over time. Though there are multiple definitions of leadership and multiple personalities around us, leadership demands a certain set of traits which makes a person stand out in the crowd.

When we talk about leadership qualities, it is often the bad characteristics of a leader which draws our attention. In other words, it is easier to identify the traits which hinder a person to become a good leader. The question here is not about the qualities a person aspiring to become a leader should not possess but rather how to do identify the virtues of a good leader? What would most people do which would make them a good leader?

Nature of Leadership

A leader encounters various types of situations and emotions; there will be the good times, stressful ones, and even terrible times. However, a great leader is always able to lead a team to success, regardless of the situation that they are facing.The route to leadership is never an easy one. In order to achieve higher goals and objectives, one must possess effective leadership qualities. 

It is quite possible that two leaders may not be same; they might differ in their opinions and their views but the commonality between both leaders would be their qualities.

Qualities to strive for:

There are ample of qualities which differentiate a good leader from a bad one. There are some key leadership characteristics that every aspiring good leader should possess or learn from:

Honesty– Honesty as a characteristic is not only pivotal for a leader but also for a good human being. A person as a leader leads a team and is responsible for the same, so as the leader in school leads the class with more responsibility. When a leader embraces ethical values like honesty and integrity, they set an example for the team and in return the team follows it.

Being an effective Communicator-Communication is built on a steady flow of verbal and nonverbal exchanges of ideas and information. With great communication comes broad understanding and vision. Thus it is important to be approachable and involve people from different levels. Remember communication is the key. Smart leaders know when to talk and when to listen. As the pupil leader in school is selected how smartly they listen and talk effectively.

Empathy–Empathy is being able to understand the needs of others. It means that you’re aware of others feelings. Being empathetic means that we are willing and able to appreciate what the other person is going through. Empathy allows leaders to build and develop relationships with those they lead.

Ability to delegate–A leader needs to understand that he/she is not a one man army. In simple words, a leader cannot do everything all the time alone. Delegation is important not only for the leaders but also for the team which the leader leads. It empowers the members and gives a sense of autonomy resulting into building of new skills among the team members and their oneness .

Learning agility– It is one of the most crucial skills a good leader should possess. We should not confuse Learning agility as an academic skill; rather it is the ability to study a new problem quickly in order to gain deep understanding before making a decision. A leader should know what to do when they don’t know what to do. Like the pupil leader in school approaches higher authority for the needs / requirements of the fellow students.

Role of a Leader in Schools

Similar to other organisations, the role of a leader is equally important in schools. A school is an institution where cooperation is given priority over competition.  It is like a well-oiled machine where each individual understands their role to ensure smooth functioning. Because school functions in a systematic and coordinated manner, the role of leaders becomes pivotal in achieving overall results. From teachers to coordinators to the Principal, they all are leaders. They not only lead their teams but also raise each and every child into responsible, educated and disciplined pupil. Though their functions might be different but the ultimate goal is common and these set of leaders are successful because they all possess the common characteristics of a good leader.  Hence TCIS believes in cooperation, delegation and exercises positive skill among students.

In these tough times when India is witnessing the disruption in education due to pandemic thus resulting into a shift in the academic pattern, these leaders often find themselves in challenging situations which has burdened their shoulders with more responsibilities. The Mantra followed by the leaders to overcome the hindrances should be the 3 C’s- Communication, Cooperation and Commitment. 

Author: Ms. Neha Singh
Faculty, TCIS