Term 3 Week 6: Five Factors

As a teacher you are a leader – where do you stand on these Five Factors?


Five key leadership factors that are clearly more important in the future than in the past include:

  1. thinking globally,

  2. appreciating cultural diversity,

  3. demonstrating technological savvy,

  4. building partnerships and

  5. sharing leadership.



Thinking Globally


Globalization is a trend that will have a major impact on the leaders of the future Two factors that are seen as making global thinking a key variable for the future are the dramatic projected increases in global trade and integrated global technology. New technology is another factor that is going to make global thinking a requirement for future leaders.



Appreciating Cultural Diversity


As the importance of globalization increases, future leaders will also need to appreciate cultural diversity. They will have to understand not only the economic and legal differences, but also the social and behavioural differences that are part of working around the world. The appreciation of cultural diversity will need to include both the "big things" and "small things" that make up a unique culture.



Demonstrating Technological Savvy


What does "technological savvy" mean? It does not mean that every future leader will be a gifted technician or a computer programmer. It does mean that leaders will need to:

  1. understand how the intelligent use of new technology can help their organizations;

  2. recruit, develop and maintain a network of technically competent people;

  3. know how to make and manage investments in new technology and

  4. be positive role models in leading the use of new technology.



Building Partnerships


Building partnerships and alliances of all kinds was viewed as far more important for the future than the past. In this "New World" building positive, long-term, "win-win" relationships with many different groups becomes critical.



Sharing Leadership


In a world where leading across a fluid network may become more important than leading from above a fixed hierarchy, being able to effectively share leadership is not an option. In an alliance structure telling partners what to do may quickly lead to having no partners. All parties will have to be able to work together to achieve the common good. Telling people what to do and how to do it becomes ridiculous. The leader will be more in a mode of asking for input and sharing information.



See : Goldsmith and Watt 1999

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