Effect of Leadership Approach and Leaders Consciousness on the Learning Organization

Abstract

To prepare children as future leaders of our society who may lead mankind to a sustainable, peaceful and global community we need to impart them with schooling in true sense where they can learn to learn and live together . Such an education does not focus on cramming of facts but on learning in a constructivist manner. School is a very crucial place for imparting education and enhancing the learning among students. Therefore, in order to have a positive impact on students learning the schools must develop as learning organizations and provide opportunities for teachers to learn and develop Zederayko and Ward (1999). Various studies have revealed and emphasised that leadership of any organization influences its development more than any other variable. Since leaders have to face the rapidly emerging challenges of present times, they need to be aware of and use multiple facets of their personality in order to lead their organizations effectively. Hence, the researcher was encouraged to undertake the present study to see the effect of leadership approach and consciousness of leaders on the learning organization. newlineThe study is based on a sample of 30 schools involving 30 principals and teachers associated with these schools. The study was conducted with the help of mixed methods research and used the mixed methods sequential explanatory design to collect quantitative and qualitative data from two distinct yet related phases of the study. The data for first phase (quantitative) was collected with help of close-ended questionnaires (MLQ, CQi and LOQ). The results obtained after the data analysis of first phase directed the sample selection for the second phase of the study. The data for second phase was collected with the help of open-ended questionnaire and semi-structured informal discussions with the principals. This qualitative phase provided in-depth exploration and explanation of the results obtained from the first phase of the study (quantitative). The results of the study indicate that the transformational and highly conscious leaders significantly lead their organizations towards developing into learning organizations. newline newline