LEADERSHIP+ The Professional Voice of School Leaders
How Can the
Leadership Success Path Help You Secure Your Leadership Role?
ORLA DEMPSEY TEACHER LEADERSHIP AND PROMOTION MENTOR, CO. OFFALY
‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader’. John Quincy Adams
In my role as leadership interview coach, teachers inspire me with the simple, consistent actions that they take in helping their students, colleagues and wider school community. When jobs are advertised, however, for many teachers, things become tricky. In some schools, colleagues don’t talk about whether (or not) they are going for the role, and applying for roles is timeconsuming and energy-zapping. And with only one or two leadership roles being advertised, many teachers are left feeling rejected and confused about why they didn’t get the role. That’s why I created ‘The Leadership Success Path’. This path helps teachers see things from a wider lens and understand that the fact that they weren’t selected this time doesn’t mean the end for them. So, what are the stages on this path? Stage 1. Curiosity At the ‘Curiosity’ Stage - teachers are curious to see if leadership is for them. They may be relatively new to teaching - but they may feel like they want more, and they admire others doing tasks outside of their classrooms. They are unsure where to start. A leadership role might be 2+ years away for these teachers.
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I created ‘The Leadership Success Path’.This path helps teachers see things from a wider lens and understand that the fact that they weren’t selected this time doesn’t mean the end for them.
what they are saying and the candidate’s job application form usually gets them an interview. They are confident that their referees will say that they have developed the necessary leadership qualities. With the help of online webinars and courses, they are applying new skills in everyday teaching and learning. They are hopeful each time they go for interview - knowing that their time will come eventually. For these teachers they have achieved success and need further support. Leadership might be 2 days to 1+ years away.
Stage 2. Knowledge Development At this stage, emerging leaders are doing LAOS-focused leadership development courses in Education Centres and Universities etc. These courses are lighting a fire under them and the desire to make a difference is getting stronger. Teachers are gathering information and building relationships with staff. There are lots of soft skills that are being developed at this stage. Their leadership role might be 1+ years away.
Stage 5. Success and Ongoing CPD Success! The leadership role is secured, and the learning continues. Leaders continue to grow and develop in their leadership journey. Mentoring, coaching, leadership talks, seminars and online courses - play key roles in learning about new developments in education. Great leaders aim to develop their soft skills even more and to get the most from their team. These leaders remain in their roles until they desire a change, and they step onto the ‘Leadership Success Path’ once again.
Stage 3. Engagement Teachers at this point are filling in leadership job application forms. They may have been rejected in the past and yet, their desire to continue to secure this new leadership role remains strong. Teachers recognise that they need interview support - either from trusted colleagues or from professionals. Their leadership role might be 2 weeks to 1+ years away. Stage 4. Skills Development These teachers are attracting the attention of interview boards. They like
I have found that knowing which stage they are at helps teachers disassociate from the hurt of rejection and to realise that their time is yet to come – when they persevere!
You can contact Orla at hello@orladempseycoaching.ie with any questions about the Leadership Success Path or her work with teachers and schools.