Leadership development should not involve knee-jerk planning that responds only to an immediate need. Rather, the research supported the idea that those developing leadership programs need to understand not only the needs of current reality, but also the needs of the future (Reiss, 2007; Stein, Schwan Smith,&Silver, 1999). In addition, leadership development program planners need to understand the backgrounds and abilities of those participating in these programs. To plan and implement effective leadership development, therefore, the planner needs to focus on the purpose of leadership development that will involve the short term and the long term (Guskey, 2000). In addition, the planners of leadership development need to understand and focus on the backgrounds, abilities, and requirements of the participants involved.
Figure 4. Implications of Data for Leadership Development
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Most importantly, leadership development programs will better engage the participants when these programs are planned in a consultative and collaborative manner with the participants. Components of leadership development programs need to support the exercise of social and political acumen; therefore, these components need to include knowledge and skill building to enhance the participants’social and political acumen. There also needs to be a clear connection between the leadership development activities that enhance leaders’exercise of social and political acumen and the aim to support dynamic leadership meeting current needs.
This study does not attempt to defend the concept of leadership; rather, it recognizes the reality of our world that needs leaders in order to function and evolve. Also recognized is the responsibility of individuals who assume leadership positions to fulfill their roles in a dynamic manner. This requires the leader to introduce and/or facilitate initiatives and make changes that bring benefit. Certainly, the understanding of what is beneficial is related to context and can change according to developments in societal ethos. In any case, it is the responsibility of the leader to develop an awareness and understanding of self, hone the necessary skills and knowledge related to leadership, and strive to fulfill the leadership role to make a difference that is positive for the current reality. The dynamic leader will exercise social and political acumen to meet the needs of the present and support the direction of the future. As such the dynamic leader who exercises social and political acumen to make a positive difference to education will have contributed to their immediate community and to the evolution of humanity.
References
Aristotle. (1986). Aristotle’s politics (H. G. Apostle&L. P. Gerson, Trans.). Grinnell, IA: Peripatetic Press. (Original work published 322 BC)
Bolman, L. G.,&Deal, T. E. (2002). Reframing the path to school leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Chenoweth, T. G.,&Everhart, R. B. (2002). Navigating comprehensive school change. Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education.