Leadership Strategies In Influencing Teachers

LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES IN INFLUENCING TEACHERS A. Definition of Leadership There are several definitions of leadership according to experts, namely: • Griffin and Ebert (in Wijono, S., 2018, p. 1) suggest the definition of leadership, namely leadership is the process of motivating others to want to work in order to achieve predetermined goals. • Gibson (in Andang, 2014, p. 37) suggests leadership is the art of using various types of influence that are not coercion to motivate organizational members to achieve goals. • Bafadal (in Andang, 2014, p. 38) explains leadership is the whole process of influencing, encouraging, inviting, and mobilizing and guiding others in the work process to think, behave, and act in accordance with applicable rules in achieving predetermined goals. B. Leadership Style • A leader style that is patterned on the importance of carrying out tasks. • Leadership style that is patterned on the implementation of cooperative relationships. • Leadership style patterned on the implementation of cooperative relationships. C. Types of Leadership There are three types of leadership, including: a. Authoritarian leadership type Authoritarian leadership style is a style of leader who centralizes all decisions and policies taken from himself in full. All division of tasks and responsibilities are held by the authoritarian leader, while subordinates only carry out the tasks that have been given. b. Free control leadership type The free control leadership style describes a leader who as a whole gives his employees or groups freedom in making decisions and completing work in the way that his employees think is most appropriate. c. Democratic leadership type Democratic leadership style is the ability to influence others to work together in achieving predetermined goals by means of various activities that will be carried out jointly determined between leaders and subordinates. D. Principal Leadership Principals are functional teachers who are given the task and mandate to lead a school where the teaching and learning process is held, or where there is interaction between teachers who give lessons and students who receive lessons. The principal as a leader has the task of assessing teacher performance. Assessment is important to do considering its function as a motivational tool for leaders to teachers and for the teachers themselves. The implementation of coaching, guidance, and motivation provided by the principal will have an impact on teacher performance in teaching quality. Principal leadership refers to the ways in which a school principal provides direction, support, and guidance to their staff, students, and community to create a positive learning environment. Effective principal leadership is essential for the success of a school. Here are some key characteristics of effective principal leadership: 1. Visionary: Effective principals have a clear vision for their school and are able to communicate it effectively to their staff, students, and community. They have a longterm plan for improving the school and are able to inspire others to work towards a common goal. 2. Collaborative: Effective principals collaborate with their staff, students, and community to create a positive learning environment. They seek input from others and are open to new ideas. 3. Decisive: Effective principals make informed decisions quickly and are willing to take risks. They are able to weigh the pros and cons of different options and make decisions that are in the best interest of the school. 4. Supportive: Effective principals support their staff and students in their work and encourage them to reach their full potential. They provide opportunities for professional development and recognize and reward excellence. 5. Data-driven: Effective principals use data to inform their decisions and monitor the progress of their school. They collect data on student achievement, attendance, behavior, and other factors to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions. 6. Visible: Effective principals are visible and accessible to their staff, students, and community. They are involved in school activities and events and are able to connect with others on a personal level. 7. Ethical: Effective principals are ethical and model the behaviors they expect from their staff and students. They are transparent in their decision-making and hold themselves and others accountable for their actions. Overall, effective principal leadership is critical to creating a positive learning environment and promoting student success. E. Principal Leadership Strategy Principal leadership strategy refers to the approaches, techniques, and practices that principals use to lead their schools effectively. Here are some key strategies that effective principals use: 1. Developing a shared vision: Effective principals involve staff, students, parents, and the community in developing a shared vision for the school. This shared vision sets the direction for the school and ensures that everyone is working towards the same goals. 2. Creating a positive school culture: Effective principals create a positive school culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. They foster a sense of community and collaboration among staff, students, and parents. 3. Setting high expectations: Effective principals set high expectations for all students and staff. They communicate these expectations clearly and hold everyone accountable for meeting them. 4. Providing professional development: Effective principals provide ongoing professional development opportunities for staff to help them improve their skills and stay up-todate with the latest teaching practices. 5. Using data to inform decision-making: Effective principals use data to inform their decision-making. They collect and analyze data on student achievement, attendance, behavior, and other factors to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions. 6. Building relationships: Effective principals build strong relationships with staff, students, parents, and the community. They listen to their concerns and ideas, and work collaboratively to find solutions to problems. 7. Empowering staff: Effective principals empower their staff to take ownership of their work and make decisions that impact their classrooms and the school. They provide the necessary resources and support to help staff succeed. Overall, effective principals use a combination of these strategies to create a school environment that supports student success and fosters a love of learning. According to Raihani, principals can implement several strategies to improve teacher performance. These strategies are: • Predictional Strategy. • Academic Strategy. • Non-Academic Strategy. • Supporting Strategy. • Evaluative Strategies F. The Principal's Role in Improving Teacher Performance As a school leader, the principal plays a critical role in improving teacher performance. Here are some ways in which a principal can support and improve teacher performance: 1. Setting clear expectations: The principal should set clear expectations for teacher performance and communicate them effectively. This includes expectations around lesson planning, instructional strategies, classroom management, and professional development. 2. Providing regular feedback: The principal should provide regular feedback to teachers on their performance. This feedback should be timely, specific, and constructive, and should focus on both strengths and areas for improvement. 3. Supporting professional development: The principal should provide opportunities for professional development to help teachers improve their skills and knowledge. This includes providing workshops, conferences, and coaching. 4. Observing and evaluating teacher performance: The principal should regularly observe and evaluate teacher performance to ensure that it meets the school's expectations. This includes providing formal evaluations and informal feedback. 5. Offering resources and support: The principal should offer resources and support to teachers to help them improve their performance. This includes providing access to instructional materials, technology, and support staff. 6. Fostering collaboration: The principal should foster a culture of collaboration among teachers. This includes encouraging teachers to share best practices, work together on lesson planning, and provide peer feedback. 7. Recognizing and rewarding excellence: The principal should recognize and reward excellent teacher performance. This includes acknowledging teachers for their achievements, providing incentives for high performance, and promoting teacher leadership. By implementing these strategies, the principal can improve teacher performance and create a culture of excellence in the school. The principal as a manager has the task of developing personnel performance, especially in improving the professional competence of teachers. The role of the principal to improve teacher competence is: • Principal as manager • Principal as educator