We Need Resilient School Leaders in the face of Chaos and Complexity

Authors : Mustafa Ozmusul

Pages : 17-25

Doi:10.22596/erj2017.0201.17.25

View : 16 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2017-12-30

Article Type : Research

Abstract :We experience some rapid and unexpected changes especially within the incoherent and asunder school policies and implementations that are unsuitable for the demands and expectations of school stakeholders. Furthermore, the internal and other external obstacles and non-ideal situations such as lack of resources, negative school climate, less motivation, organizational conflicts, cultural matters, depersonalization, or resist to change surround the schools today. All these tend to produce serious organizational stress and turn into organizational viruses at the school level. Exploring the non-ideal situations affecting today schools, the present study conceptualizes a resilient leadership model with reference to the school system in the face of chaos and complexity. Although describing the resilient leaders seems difficult we can say that resilient leaders do not seek pretext for struggling against difficulties, and when non-ideal situations occur they can shake but stand up. Such leaders that we expect like a tree which can withstand a storm run in downpour, like a dam which can hinder strong waves, or like a flower which can blossom in the snow. They may not be superman or supergirl but at least they are mentally, emotionally, socially, ethically, and physically strong humans who beat the odds. In turn, resilient leadership can be defined as displaying high level of endeavor to overcome the both internal and external obstacles that the organization faces, and generating different solutions despite the fact that many non-ideal situations affect the organization. At the end of the study, in the face of such situations, some potential characteristics of the resilient school leaders are suggested.
Keywords : resilient leadership, school leadership, leadership development, chaos and leadership