Facets of Trust
Benevolence:
- caring
- extending good will
- having positive interactions
- supporting teachers
- expressing appreciation for staff efforts
- being fair
- guarding confidential information
Honesty:
- having integrity
- telling the truth
- keeping promises
- honoring agreements
- having authenticity
- accepting responsibility
- avoiding manipulation
- being real
- being true to oneself
Openness:
- engaging in open communication
- sharing important information
- delegating
- sharing decision making
- sharing power
Reliability:
- having consistency
- being dependable
- demonstrating commitment
- having dedication
- being diligent
Competence:
- setting an example
- engaging in problem solving
- fostering conflict resolution (rather than avoidance)
- working hard
- pressing for results
- setting standards
- buffering teachers
- handling difficult situations
- being flexible
From: Trust Matters by Megan Tschannen-Moran
Published by: Jossey-Bass
This list of attributes, character traits, and personal leadership skills is significant and essential for any successful school leader. When I am asked to reflect on myself and what others might say about my leadership qualities as identified in the article, I believe that any colleagues/school staff members that I have worked with would give me a strong rating for all of these areas. Not only do I personally value these attributes of "trustworthiness" in myself and others, I find these to be key skills for any leader.I think that leaders must set the tone for the school in being a benevolent, open, honest, reliable and a competent individual. We are the role models and the leaders and as such it is imporant to realize that we are being measured daily by staff based on most of these criteria.
ReplyDeleteHow Trustworthy are You as a Leader? Is Openness Most Important?
ReplyDeleteWhen I reflect on leaders I have worked with, and respected, all of these aspects of trustworthiness were important – and yet, probably most salient and important was openness. By being open, a leader, demonstrates trust, honesty, truthfulness, integrity, respect, and directness. It is amazing to watch the impact on a school staff, when staff members perceive that leaders are not open with them. It doesn’t even have to be the case that leaders are not open – and yet, if staff perceive that the leadership is not open, all trustworthiness is lost. This is challenging in an atmosphere where confidentiality is often required, and we are put into a position of being torn between the desire of openness and disclosure with staff, along with the demands of confidentiality and the protection of privacy.