A Passion for Improving Schools

In order for any organization to reach its potential it must recognize the value of effective leadership. As John Maxwell states, “Leadership is everything.” The leadership of an organization significantly contributes to its achievement. An organization does not achieve because of its leadership. The primary purpose of leadership is to establish the vision of the organization. The leadership then communicates the vision and secures the necessary personnel to realize the vision. The leadership of the organization has the responsibility of providing members of the organization the necessary resources, motivation, and support to realize the vision.

There are qualities that cross all cultural boundaries. Effective leaders in education exemplify these qualities as those in business and as those in the religious community. I have read and reflected upon John Maxwell’s The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow and The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. These are highly recommended readings for all school leaders that are serious about self and school improvement. Although many qualities and laws were observed in the school leaders I served with, I have identified the attributes and laws that have been most recognizable in building the three schools’ success stories.

The first attribute is vision. The vision is the standard by which all decisions are made. John Maxwell states “A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.”