VDM Verlag Strategy and Leadership for Turbulent Times: Exploring the characteristics of essential strategic leadership for schools

Preparing for an uncertain and complex future is vital for all those with leadership responsibilities. Mapping a long term direction for an organization is particularly difficult in times of turbulent social or economic change. In a knowledge based economy, we often equate leadership competence with "knowing". The problem is that all our factual knowledge is about the past. We have no facts about the future at our disposal. The dilemma is how leaders react to the attractive but false belief that it is possible to predict and control the future accurately yet not become paralysed by inertia. In response, this book asserts that there are persuasive claims to be made in the concept of strategic leadership as a theory for action. The author reviews the literature and then introduces a new synthesis of essential strategic leadership characteristics. Data are derived from leaders in independent schools who share their insights. These are encapsulated in seven propositions and a new conceptual model. This analysis should be helpful for practitioners within educational settings and for leaders in teams who are interested in enhancing their strategic imagination. About the Author Dr.Trevor Lee is Head at Northwood Prep School and is a Research Associate at the National College for School Leadership. He was the ESU Page Scholar in 2006. He holds degrees from Exeter, Cambridge [Jesus College] and Hull Universities. Trevor has led seminars at conferences as far afield as Edinburgh, New York, San Francisco and London.