Leadership approaches and transformational change in U.S. public schools

Spirituality in Young Children Self-Control: Cultural Influence

Currently, I am an affiliative leader because I tend to care about the well-being of others (Northouse, 2016). In fact, I am often involved in minimal conflicts in teams I run because many people around me feel valued and appreciated. This has always served to create an overall sense of harmony wherever I am. Surveys indicate that most people feel undervalued during change implementation (Kasemsap, 2016). For this reason, the currently employed staff and existing institutions are unresponsive to system change in U.S. public schools. With an affiliative leader, there is hope for change and this scenario will not be true. I would make the currently employed staff and existing institutions feel valued, welcome and happy about the change. However, my approach to leadership has some weaknesses. The most notable of them is that I could have a tough time managing inevitable conflicts when they occur, and I will be less expected to handle these scenarios as they are. Also, this can lead to poor performance from employees who become complacent under the flow of positive feedback because they get lost in striving to be better.

From such s weaknesses, I desire to change my affiliative leadership approach into a transformational approach. The key to managing the current problem is a long lasting and an effective leader. To achieve this, a transformational leader must transform the institutional behavior and performance by influencing the current employees to share my vision and allow them to perform beyond their specified responsibilities. As a transformational leader, I am expected to exhibit behaviors that can overcome individual's resistance to change (Northouse, 2014). This includes influencing my followers' perceptions of system change by offering a common vision and making them see that the change is an appropriate opportunity and not a threat. I must allow them to apply self-direction and accept change towards the objectives without the feeling of threats. McGregor's "Theory Y" has clearly described this leadership by stating that it will allow me to overcome resistance and generate better performance. By focusing on the interests and needs of my followers, transformational leadership will help me promote the creation of reliable and trustworthy relationships. Therefore, the United States public schools will achieve a system change leading to lower levels of psychiatric disorders and medication with psychotropic medications among their students.

Question two

Three leadership principles outline the expectations regarding the conduct of the capstone research project. They apply to everyone involved in the capstone project including lead researcher, students, research support staff, administrators and research managers.

Ethics, respect and professional standards

My capstone project research should respect and maintain the rights, dignity, well-being and safety of all involved or who might be impacted by the study. The researcher and research support staff must understand and know how to access the relevant ethical and legal requirements. They must adopt proper measures to maintain confidentiality, manage data, and reduce any effect their work might have on animals, people, and the natural environment within these frameworks. They must recognize and manage risks associated with the possibility for the study results to be misused for harmful reasons.

Transparency and honesty

All involved in my capstone project must be honest as far as their actions and responses to others are concerned. The research team must promote and support a culture of honesty and transparency that promotes good practice acknowledges relevant interests and deals with conflicts explicitly and openly (Northouse, 2016). This applies throughout the various research activities from experimental, peer review process, data generation, analysis, applying for funds, recording and publishing findings. Processes for investigating allegations and data reporting of the capstone project must be clear, fair, thorough, timely and conclusive. Remedial actions must be clearly outlined and promptly implemented.

Research integrity and excellence

My capstone project research is committed to high ethical standards and ethical in the design, reporting, and exploitation of existing research. The research team will act with skill and care throughout to deliver high-quality findings. Everyone engaged in the project will recognize and approve individual liability for the integrity of the research record.

Question three

The following three leadership principles are essential to embody as I approach my selected challenge. These principles are relevant in that they can help me navigate the unpredictable shoals of change systematically.

Start at the top: As a leader, while it is vital to engage people at all levels, for the change implementation to be successful, I must start at the top. This means that I must have a well-aligned and committed group of executives who should be strongly supported by CEOs of existing public schools. We should not take this alignment for granted. Therefore, I must work in advance to ensure all the currently employed staff and existing institutions agree about the case for a system change and the particulars of its implementation (Northouse, 2014).