The Characteristics and Outcomes of an Effective IT Leader
When reflecting on the many characteristics and skills required for a leader to be effective, I thought of Angela, a Grade One teacher who has inspired several of her colleagues with her passion and commitment. Angela is an experienced teacher who is well respected for her professionalism and her knowledge of the curriculum. She has a vision of having students achieve their own level of excellence through embedding technology as a teaching and learning tool. She has forged the way in exploring and implementing best practices related to curriculum and technology. Angela has been an effective IT leader by conducting Professional Development sessions on exploring and integrating various software programs, taking on a facilitator role during Professional Learning Community meetings, and providing ongoing support for her colleagues when they were planning for, and using technology.
In the CIO CANADA article, Carey (2005) discussed some of the shared essential qualities which effective leaders possess stating that passion is an essential trait. “If passion is an essential leadership trait, then coupled closely with it must be prudence and practicality” (p. 6). Angela’s passion and commitment for using technology has indeed moved learning forward and due to her influence, teachers are now feeling more confident to step outside their comfort zone and change their teaching practices. She brings the element of practicality forward by helping teachers make essential curricular connections. Additionally, she motivates others and assists and supports teachers with developing the skills necessary to help students experience greater success through using technology as a learning tool.
Fullan (2001) discusses complications that arise when trying to bring about change. He states “that transformation would not be possible without accompanying messiness” (p. 31). Angela has set such a wonderful example for her colleagues by persevering through the messiness that can occur when using technology with young children. As teachers struggled with the challenge of learning new software programs, she assisted with problem solving, and provided ongoing feedback and instruction. With this support, her colleagues persevered through the many setbacks that arose including equipment, server or software issues. These setbacks could have given the striving teachers an excuse to use more traditional, but less rewarding methods and mediums.
Understanding the benefit of incorporating technology into one’s own teaching practice, and developing the skills to use the software/hardware, is a big challenge for teachers. Fullan (2001) states “effectiveness depends on developing internal commitment in which the ideas and intrinsic motivation of the vast majority of organizational members become activated” (p. 46). Angela has inspired and supported her colleagues to persevere through these challenges in order to experience success personally and professionally. When participating in learning projects that incorporated technology, teachers observed increased student engagement and improved critical thinking, problem solving and analytical skills. As a result, teachers became intrinsically motivated and demonstrated an increased commitment for expanding their repertoire of skills.
Angela is a leader who has vision, passion and commitment. She clearly explains her goals and challenges others to persevere through discomfort and dissonance to effect change and achieve success.
Carey, D. (2005). Some Reflections on Leadership. CIO Canada. November 13(11) p. 6.
