While there are many factors that affect enrollment, I believe that leadership is one of the most important. I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of school leaders. Some of these leaders have excelled while others haven’t been able to move their school forward.
My all-time favorite book on leadership is The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner. I used their leadership framework as a basis for my dissertation at Michigan State University when I studied the leadership practice of university presidents.
In their research, they discover five practices of exemplary leaders. These five practices highlight the role of the head in leading school growth. The following is a “taste” of these five practices:
1—Model the Way – “Modeling the way is essentially about earning the right and the respect to lead through direct individual involvement and action. People first follow the person, then the plan” (page 15).
2—Inspire a Shared Vision – “Their own enthusiasm was catching; it spread from leader to constituents” (page 16).
3—Challenge the Process –“Leaders are pioneers—people who are willing to step out into the unknown. They search for opportunities to innovate, grow and improve” (page 17).
4—Enable Others to Act – “When leadership is a relationship founded on trust and confidence, people take risks, make changes, keep organizations and movements alive” (page 19).
5—Encourage the Heart – “It’s part of the leader job to show appreciation for people’s contributions and to create a culture of celebration” (page 19).
I believe that this is a great model for any and every school leader to follow. These exemplary leadership practices should especially define the role of the head of school.
Private, independent and faith-based schools need this type of leadership in order to move a school forward in a very competitive market. These five practices should be evident in your school’s leadership to successfully grow enrollment.
Click here to read this article on the Enrollment Catalyst website.
