The principal's career stage: An absent element in leadership perspectives

Izhar Oplatka

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article revisits the major perspectives of educational leadership, and challenges their assumptions from the standpoint of the career stage approach, that postulates that individuals progress through a series of stages, each of which is characterised by a relatively unique set of issues, themes, or tasks. The author claims the need to consider the principal's career stage in theoretical perspectives of educational leadership, on the grounds that the assumptions underlying different leadership styles are more likely to be appropriate for a principal's particular career stage, rather than for any career stage. Principals should be expected in theory to adopt a leadership style which is more compatible with the unique features and context of a certain career stage, and to refrain from employing a leadership style that is in contrast with those features and context.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)43-55
Number of pages13
JournalInternational Journal of Leadership in Education
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Strategy and Management

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