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Teachers' perceptions of leadership qualities : a case of a Singapore preschool principal
Author
Tang, Cindy
Supervisor
Mau, Rosalind Y.
Abstract
This study examined the perceptions of preschool teachers in Singapore concerning leadership qualities they associated with preschool principals and characteristics of servant leaders. It explored the extent to which preschool teachers identified characteristics of an effective preschool principal that are consistent with the characteristics of servant leadership. A theoretical model, which used a definition of servant leadership that had been adapted by Spears, 1998 from the works of Robert Greenleaf, was used for analysis. The key elements of servant leadership were listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualisation, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of others and building community.
The methodology for this qualitative study consisted of in-depth, semi-structured and open-ended focus group interviews with 15 preschool teachers employed at a selected preschool centre in Singapore. The perceptions of these participants were inductively analysed and described.
Preschool teachers who participated in this study identified effective principals with the six servant leadership elements of listening, empathy, persuasion, healing, awareness and stewardship. They preferred a leader who is caring, compassionate, confident, and ethical, has integrity, empathetic, honest, motivating, self-aware, and is willing to trust them. The effective leader is a good communicator and leads through role modelling. Overall, the qualities that preschool teachers in this study perceive as essential and important leadership qualities of effective preschool principals match most qualities of servant leaders used in Spears (1998) framework. The leader who preschool leaders could count on appears to be a servant leader.
The methodology for this qualitative study consisted of in-depth, semi-structured and open-ended focus group interviews with 15 preschool teachers employed at a selected preschool centre in Singapore. The perceptions of these participants were inductively analysed and described.
Preschool teachers who participated in this study identified effective principals with the six servant leadership elements of listening, empathy, persuasion, healing, awareness and stewardship. They preferred a leader who is caring, compassionate, confident, and ethical, has integrity, empathetic, honest, motivating, self-aware, and is willing to trust them. The effective leader is a good communicator and leads through role modelling. Overall, the qualities that preschool teachers in this study perceive as essential and important leadership qualities of effective preschool principals match most qualities of servant leaders used in Spears (1998) framework. The leader who preschool leaders could count on appears to be a servant leader.
Date Issued
2001
Call Number
LB1140.25.S55 Tan
Date Submitted
2001