Leadership Skills in School and Business

School Administrator, Oct, 1998 by James H. Stronge

Comparing Leader Attributes
James Stronge developed this matrix using the framework of skills
devised by Robert Katz, author of "Skills of an Effective
Administrator," published in the January-February 1955 issue of
Harvard Business Review. The chart compares the attributes of
leaders as espoused by some of the foremost thinkers on
leadership.
                                Technical Skills
                                (specialized knowledge,
                                tools and techniques)
James MacGregor Burns
(Author of Government By
the People and Leadership)
John Gardner                    * Demonstrates task
(Author of On Leadership,         competence
No Easy Victories and           * Exhibits capacity to
Excellence)                       manage
Stephen Covey                   * Puts first things first
(Author of First Things First,  * Sharpens the saw
Principle-Centered Leadership
and The Seven Habits of
Highly Effective People)
James Kouzes and
Barry Posner
(Co-Authors of The Leadership
Challenge)
U.S. managers study             * Demonstrates
                                  competency
                                Conceptual Skills
                                (ability to see the
                                enterprise as a whole)
James MacGregor Burns           * Considers causative
(Author of Government By        factors (change in
the People and Leadership)      motives and goals)
John Gardner                    * Applies intelligence
(Author of On Leadership,       and judgment to actions
No Easy Victories and           and decisions
Excellence)                     * Accepts responsibility
                                willingly
                                * Intuits follower needs
                                * Harbors need to
                                achieve
                                * Exhibits
                                self-confidence
Stephen Covey                   * Acts proactively
(Author of First Things First,  (personal vision)
Principle-Centered Leadership   * Begins with the
and The Seven Habits of         end in mind
Highly Effective People)
James Kouzes and                * Challenges the process
Barry Posner                    * Inspires a shared vision
(Co-Authors of The Leadership
Challenge)
U.S. managers study             * Exhibits forward-looking
                                orientation to planning
                                and problem-solving
                                Human Skills
                                (working with people,
                                ethical dimensions)
James MacGregor Burns           * Draws on the collective
(Author of Government By        strengths of individual
the People and Leadership)      and group (no leader
                                works in isolation)
                                * Considers dissenting
                                viewpoints (meaningful
                                conflict)
                                * Stimulates moral
                                and purposeful growth of
                                followers
                                * Elevates by transforming
                                principled levels of
                                judgment
John Gardner                    * Demonstrates food
(Author of On Leadership,       people skills
No Easy Victories and           * Motivates others
Excellence)                     * Acts courageously,
                                steadfastly
                                * Wins and holds trust
                                * Acts assertively in
                                concert with ascendance,
                                dominance
                                * Shows adaptability,
                                flexibility
Stephen Covey                   * Thinks win/win
(Author of First Things First,  * Seeks to understand
Principle-Centered Leadership   and be understood
and The Seven Habits of         * Synergizes
Highly Effective People)
James Kouzes and                * Enables others to act
Barry Posner                    * Models the way
(Co-Authors of The Leadership   * Encourages the heart
Challenge)
U.S. managers study             * Acts honostly
                                * Inspires others
Comparing Leadership Standards
This matrix compares the standards for leadership espoused by three
leading groups, including AASA.
                          Technical Skills
                          (specialized knowledge,
                          tools and techniques)
NCATE Standards           * Curriculum and in-
(National Council           struction
for Accreditation of      * Student services
Teacher Education)        * Organizational man-
                            agement
                          * Fiscal management
                          * Technology systems
                          * Law, policy and politi-
                            cal systems
ISLLC Standards           * Organizational man-
(Interstate School          agement
Leaders Licensure
Consortium)
AASA Standards for the    * Policy and governance
Superintendency *         * Organizational
(American Association of  management
School Administrators)    * Curriculum planning
                          * Instructional
                          management
                          * Human resource
                          management
                          Conceptual Skills
                          (ability to see the
                          enterprise as a whole)
NCATE Standards           * Professional leadership
(National Council         * Information manage-
for Accreditation of      ment
Teacher Education)
ISLLC Standards           * Ability to develop and
(Interstate School        sustain culture
Leaders Licensure         * Ability to develop and
Consortium)               implement vision
                          * Understand and
                          respond to larger context
AASA Standards for the    * Leadership and district
Superintendency *         culture
(American Association of
School Administrators)
                          Human Skills
                          (working with people,
                          ethical dimensions)
NCATE Standards           * Ethical leadership
(National Council         * Professional develop-
for Accreditation of      ment and human re-
Teacher Education)        sources
                          * Interpersonal skills
                          * Community relations
ISLLC Standards           * Collaborations with
(Interstate School        families and community
Leaders Licensure         * Integrity and ethical
Consortium)               behavior
AASA Standards for the    * Communications and
Superintendency *         community relations
(American Association of  * Values and ethics
School Administrators)
(*)Although intended for superintendent, they are used here for
purposes of comparison with school leader standards.