Leadership in educational administration

Leadership is not the same as holding an office. A principal with authority but no followers is an administrator; a teacher whom colleagues follow because of vision and trust is a leader. Leadership is influence towards goals: setting direction, motivating people, and changing culture. Worked example: a principal who convinces reluctant teachers to adopt a new reading programme by sharing evidence, listening to concerns and celebrating early wins is leading; one who merely orders compliance is exercising authority, not leadership.