Leadership and Technology in Schools
I read an excellent article this morning titled Leadership: Walking the Talk. Within the article there are some points that all school leaders, not just technology leaders, should think about.
One of the authors first points is that technology leadership, any kind of leadership for that matter, needs to be people focused. Too many district leaders lose sight of this, especially in the area of technology. It too often has focused on the equipment and software, not enough on the needs of the people that have to use it. Building good relationships with the users allows the process of managing technology to become collaborative with everyone working toward a common vision. It doesn’t work when leaders alienate themselves from the front lines. They lose a very important perspective when they disregard this part of the organization.
As an Instructional Technology Specialist, I have a very unique role in that I see clearly what the needs of teachers and students are, as well as the way that leadership responds to that. I see myself as middle man - a leader that helps the two understand each other.
This leads to another point made in the article: Leaders don’t have to be experts in everything, and should rely on others around them to offer their particular expertise. Nobody can know everything. Most of us have a speicalty or two, especially when it comes to technology. It takes a lot of courage to rely on others expertise. For some this may be especially difficult if that ‘expert’ is a subordinate in an organization that follows a rigid hierarchy. Too often ego involved. When we resort to face-saving tactics and avoid seeking out advice, we damage the level of trust and collegiality that is so important to effectively lead.
Ralph Szygenda is CIO and Group VP at General Motors Corp.
“There are two thoughts that often get lost in the discussion about being effective in building and using influence: Don’t assume you have all the right answers-that’s why a strong team is essential. And, above all, do the right thing, not only for business or economic impact, but also for social and philosophical implications. Ultimately, power is the ability to influence and facilitate change, and people naturally rally around leaders who do the right thing consistently.”
There is a lot more in the article, including 10 suggestions for effective technology leaders. A must-read for anyone interested in leading the future of technology in education.
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