About the Book

Refine your leadership effectiveness and expand your leadership legacy!

 

Whether you’re an aspiring leader, or you consider yourself a veteran searching for a fresh perspective, leadership in an age of disruption, high expectations, and exploding demands is challenging.

 

In addition to wise applications of power, this small, yet robust, book focuses on the duty leaders face to forge and strengthen bonds of trust and further the school improvement agenda. Designed to ignite your intellectual curiosity, the author coaches leaders on:

• Honing the dispositions and interpersonal competencies necessary for leadership effectiveness
• Strengthening self-regard and attitudes toward others
• Developing a strong human rights orientation
• Ensuring that equity and excellence go hand in hand  
• Defining what it takes to inspire and motivate others to act
• Implementing an inside-out approach that empowers them to be agile and flexible leaders

Well suited for any organizational setting, the ideas and action steps offered in Reaching the Heart of Leadership aim to re-ignite the passion and determination in individuals who continue to make a difference in the lives of those they serve.

"Avis Glaze’s views on leadership are unique and powerful for one main reason. She puts things together that people don’t usually think are compatible, thereby reaching new heights and depths of insight and efficacy. She combines empathy and determination; respect and candor; high expectations and persistent patience. The bottom line is as close to 100% success as possible, with every percentage point below 100 unacceptable. Accordingly, Reaching the Heart of Leadership is chock full of unusual insights. For each chapter there are lessons learned, and action steps to be taken, but understand that none of this is about slogans, and all of it has been tested and learned through hard practice. Avis does wear her heart on her sleeve; but also she wears it in every action relationship she encounters. For Avis, every value is a competency and every competency is a value. Read this book and be inspired to be the best leader you can ever be."

Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus

OISE/University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Reaching the Heart of Leadership Leadership Lessons Learned Action Steps for Reaching the Heart of Leadership 2. Leadership Then . . . and Now Reflections on Leadership Questions for Self-Analysis and Reflection What Motivates Employees the Most? Empathy: A Quintessential Leadership Competence How to Take Action for Developing Empathy Leadership: A Brief Historical Overview What Is Leadership Today? Reaching the Heart of Leadership: Key Requirements Lessons Learned Action Steps for Developing Empathy 3. Self-Knowledge and Awareness Know Thyself! Peripheral Vision and Recognition of Future Trends Future Trends in Education Moral and Ethical Decision Making Biases, Stereotypes, and Prejudices Leadership Is Political! Leadership Lessons Learned Action Steps for Leading Ethically 4. High Expectations for Learning and Achievement How to Perpetuate a Culture of High Expectations Equitable and Inclusive Schools for All Learners Leadership Lessons Learned Action Steps for Being More Inclusive and Improving Achievement 5. Holistic Education: Character, Career, the Arts, and Entrepreneurship Character Development Career Development The Importance of the Arts in the Curriculum The Entrepreneurial Spirit and Mind-Set A Strong Commitment to Advocacy Working with Diversity: Community Outreach, Engagement, and Development Leadership Lessons Learned Action Steps to Enhance Student Success 6. Capacity Building for System, School, and Professional Improvement Capacity Building: The Essence of District and School Improvement Improving Ontario Schools: A Strategy That Works Strategies for Capacity Building and System Improvement Challenges Facing Our Students Options and Opportunities That Our Students Benefit From Leadership Lessons Learned Action Steps for District and School Improvement 7. Achieving Results, Determining Impact, Recognizing Responsibilities Achieving Results Determining Impact Recognizing Responsibilities Leadership Lessons Learned Action Steps for Making an Impact Conclusion: Reaching the Heart of Leadership—A Few Takeaways What Do We Hold in Trust for Future Leaders? Leadership Lessons Learned References For Further Reading and Reflection Index