Personal Leadership Philosophy

Ghada AbdelRahman Aly

Through years of experience and education as an educator and a leader, I have learned that

effective leaders must have a clear vision for their purpose and goals. This vision along with

ethical values and principles should act as a compass for the leader's actions and decisions. A

leader should strive to serve the community and seek success for the organization through

working collaboratively with all stakeholders.

Leadership requires the use of a complex set of strategies, skills, and attitudes. To achieve a

balance, an effective leader must be passionate about the role and mission and work tirelessly

within a team to bring about the most compelling practices. Leaders should utilize effective

approaches.

Ethical Character

Ethics and principles should serve as a compass to the leader's actions and decisions.

The leader should treat others with respect, fairness, and dignity. The leader should always

act in a professional manner guided by high principles and morals.

Along with a character based on principles and manners, the leader must clearly

affirm the shared ethical values for their organization and ensure that the entire staff is

working alongside to ensure these values are at the forefront of their practices. Leading by

example is very important to establishing the leader's credibility.

Clear Vision

Having a strong vision and enlisting their staff to share that vision is important for

leaders who wish to create a long-lasting impact. Leaders may adapt their strategies and

techniques to deal effectively with the work demands but they should never lose sight of the

long-term goals. Leaders should use this vision to guide their decisions and actions.
Student-Centered Education

Student development is the core of education. Educational leader's focus should be

the growth and development of the student. I base my leadership on developing an

environment conducive to the development of balanced characters. My vision is to take on a

holistic approach to education. This would include academic excellence, student leadership,

as well as character development. Students should be involved in developing goals for

themselves and be accountable to monitor their growth through supported self-reflection.

Safe and Caring Environment

Students should feel safe and resected within schools. The school is a second home

for students where they feel appreciated and have a positive sense of belonging. Student's

success should be celebrated and encouraged. I take on a positive and respectful model of

behaviour management based on prevention, self-regulation, and ongoing reflection.

Servant Leadership

I believe that a leader should serve all individuals in their school, including teachers,

students, staff, parents, and other community members. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon

him) said: "The most beloved of the people to Allah are the most beneficial for the people".

By this, I base my leadership on serving and benefiting others. The notion of serving others

would encompass many roles of an educational leader such as providing instructional

leadership, mentorship, building capacity in staff.

Positive Culture

Having a positive and supportive culture is very crucial in enlisting the staff

enthusiasm and commitment. I believe that leaders should adopt a collaborative approach

where they support and inspire their staff. The goal should be to encourage staff to work with

(not for) the leader. In that sense, leaders inspire their staff and support them to grow and

flourish. To create effective schools, Lezotte and Snyder (2011) propose an approach to
leadership where the style of leadership where effective leaders learn to adapt their

leadership styles over time, with the goal of inspiring and empowering colleagues to take

ownership of the change process in pursuit of a common vision (p. 56). I have been blessed

to work with leaders who have seen the potential in me and they encouraged me to further my

career and skills. To me, that was the biggest motivator during my teaching career and I

intend to follow the same strategies to build capacity in the staff I work with.

I have already applied similar techniques and used my skills to help and inspire other

teachers. I have worked with new and student teachers providing them with the support and

help they needed to grow as successful professionals. My goal was to serve the community

by preparing a new generation of effective educators. I was successful in doing so as these

teachers are now very successful professionals.

Professional Growth

While leaders should work tirelessly to grow capacity in others, they should also

continue developing their own skills and knowledge. The leader should be a life-long learner

who pursues further development and growth opportunities. A leader must be current in their

knowledge and use of initiatives and trends in education. That allows the leader to be

resourceful and equipped to support the staff and continue to revive the practices at their

school.