Leadership Philosophy
In the effort to create “a new wave of experimentation and advancement” (Senge, 2013, p. 11) within the STEM curricula at OCTC in this Action Research study, my leadership philosophy is guided by Senge’s (2013) disciplines which are building a shared vision, personal mastery, team learning, mental models, and systems thinking for effective leadership within a learning organization. Building a shared vision is sharing pictures of the future with the members to decide on a common goal, and personal mastery is encouraging personal growth and development of the members of the organization (Senge). In addition, team learning is fostering an open dialogue for members of the organization to think and learn together, and systems …show more content…
A purposeful decision-maker asks questions and gathers data (Freeman, 2009), and gathering intelligence is crucial for leaders to make decisions that require obtaining knowledge from other members in the organization (Senge, 2013). During the data gathering, it is also important to practice patience and good listening skills, because a leader must understand the feelings, meanings, and perceptions aligned with the data (Murphy, 2013). Additionally, when these decisions are made and conclusions are drawn using critical thinking, which is applying reason and logic to situations (Freeman, 2009), confidence and trust in leadership is strengthened (Sergiovanni, 2013). Thus, reason and logic are the tools of a leader who has a diplomatic approach to problem solving as well as the ability to work toward consensus within the organization (Downing, 2016). Therefore, as the leader of this Action Research study, I strive to develop the characteristics of an effective leader in revising the processes and procedures currently in place with my colleagues and student-participants and not simply act as a manager, one who presides over processes and procedures (Gardner, 2013) that maintain the status quo of students leaving the College without proper support to continue their education (Barbatis, …show more content…
Unfortunately, this classroom experience is failing the first-year students as evidenced by the low retention rate at OCTC (National Center for Education Statistics, 2016). Thus, in the effort to develop a plan of action to positively impact retention at OCTC, my leadership philosophy guides this Action Research study in creating a learning community, defined as a group of members who share common goals and engage in collaborative learning, (Tinto, 1997) within the STEM department to empower the students to become actively involved in the construction of knowledge and share what they have learned with others, which intensifies the meaning of the knowledge (Brubaker,
In the effort to create “a new wave of experimentation and advancement” (Senge, 2013, p. 11) within the STEM curricula at OCTC in this Action Research study, my leadership philosophy is guided by Senge’s (2013) disciplines which are building a shared vision, personal mastery, team learning, mental models, and systems thinking for effective leadership within a learning organization. Building a shared vision is sharing pictures of the future with the members to decide on a common goal, and personal mastery is encouraging personal growth and development of the members of the organization (Senge). In addition, team learning is fostering an open dialogue for members of the organization to think and learn together, and systems …show more content…
A purposeful decision-maker asks questions and gathers data (Freeman, 2009), and gathering intelligence is crucial for leaders to make decisions that require obtaining knowledge from other members in the organization (Senge, 2013). During the data gathering, it is also important to practice patience and good listening skills, because a leader must understand the feelings, meanings, and perceptions aligned with the data (Murphy, 2013). Additionally, when these decisions are made and conclusions are drawn using critical thinking, which is applying reason and logic to situations (Freeman, 2009), confidence and trust in leadership is strengthened (Sergiovanni, 2013). Thus, reason and logic are the tools of a leader who has a diplomatic approach to problem solving as well as the ability to work toward consensus within the organization (Downing, 2016). Therefore, as the leader of this Action Research study, I strive to develop the characteristics of an effective leader in revising the processes and procedures currently in place with my colleagues and student-participants and not simply act as a manager, one who presides over processes and procedures (Gardner, 2013) that maintain the status quo of students leaving the College without proper support to continue their education (Barbatis, …show more content…
Unfortunately, this classroom experience is failing the first-year students as evidenced by the low retention rate at OCTC (National Center for Education Statistics, 2016). Thus, in the effort to develop a plan of action to positively impact retention at OCTC, my leadership philosophy guides this Action Research study in creating a learning community, defined as a group of members who share common goals and engage in collaborative learning, (Tinto, 1997) within the STEM department to empower the students to become actively involved in the construction of knowledge and share what they have learned with others, which intensifies the meaning of the knowledge (Brubaker,