by admin | Oct 8, 2011 | Management, Soft Skills
Most school managers have undoubtedly persuade many organizational leaders into a belief that democratic management – achieved through the use of groups of individuals – is the path to effectiveness. Such a belief is consistent with an attraction to collaboration and co-operation as opposed to competition and isolation, and it is almost universally unchallenged. While team effort may find more favour than individual achievement – in the organizational rhetoric, at least – there is little firm evidence to support the productivity and effectiveness gains of the former. Yet, intuitively, management by teams seems to make sense. The tide of “teamism” is unlikely to be stemmed, certainly in the foreseeable future. Indeed, Belbin (1993) predicts:
A well-educated population is less likely to accept the word of the big boss. Decisions increasingly demand consultation, a process best accomplished through peer-group relationships. Hierarchy becomes less respected and compliance more difficult to enforce.
 The preceding paragraph emphasizes the needs for collaboration among faculty as to ensure effective school system which possibly make instructional competence and learning process. This will surely give an idea to school managers who are constantly looking out for strategies that will help them to cope with complexity and competition. Ingram, et. al. (1997) have sounding comment on this matter as they emphasize that the most effective linkages between school activities are forged by people and the way in which they work together in groups is a key concern for management.
by admin | Oct 8, 2011 | Management, Soft Skills
Faculty teamwork has grown dramatically over the course of this century. Conventional stereotypes, which convey the image of professors conducting research in the isolation of a laboratory or teaching alone in front of a room of passive students, overlook important aspects of modern academic life. Many professors now do much of their work like teaching, conducting research, and writing in partnership with colleagues.
Faculty teamwork occurs in a variety of settings and takes different forms, depending on the nature of the collaborative team and the goals of its members. Essentially, faculty teamwork is a cooperative endeavor that involves common goals, coordinated effort, and outcomes or products for which the collaborators share responsibility and credit. A characteristic common to all effective schools is staff members that work together on shared goals or a common mission they help to establish.
Effective schools require a professional partnership between the principal and the teachers (Berry, 1990). An effective organization works together as the high performing team bound together with a clear direction, a system of accountability, and strong group norms to maintain the organizational focus.
The underlying assumption is that for meaningful school improvement to take place there is a need for greater teacher involvement both inside and outside the classroom (Fullen and Hargreaves, 1998). Current school reform is focusing on decreasing bureaucratic control and including teachers as active decision makers to improve student outcomes (Rowan, 1994). School improvement is dependent on teacher empowerment (Bullard and Taylor, 1993). A University of Maryland Study (1996) finds that effective schools do many good things simultaneously within a dynamic and open school climate that encourages flexibility, collaboration, and risk-taking among staff.
by admin | Jul 11, 2011 | My Point, Soft Skills
By Aesop
ONCE UPON A TIME a Wolf resolved to disguise his appearance in order to secure food more easily. Encased in the skin of a sheep, he pastured with the flock deceiving the shepherd by his costume. In the evening he was shut up by the shepherd in the fold; the gate was closed, and the entrance made thoroughly secure. But the shepherd, returning to the fold during the night to obtain meat for the next day, mistakenly caught up the Wolf instead of a sheep, and killed him instantly.
My Point
We must be happy and be contented of what we are. Wearing the clothing of other people just for others to impress is not a good way to succeed.
by admin | Mar 21, 2011 | My Point, Soft Skills
Look around! Have a quick survey on the people you know who are successful on their career as your respondents. Make a quantitative comparison on how many are those who finished college and those who did not. I am quite sure that we will come up with a similar findings. Most of the people who are successful are those who undergone formal education.
There was once a wealthy family I knew who had 5 children and I was amazed that not even one of them get into college. Yes, they have farms, real states and businesses. This may the reason that they were not interested to go to school for they have already what they want. They are so practical on their decisions but still I believe that they missed the important stage on their formal education quest.
Going to school is not an assurance of having a good paying jobs. It doesn’t even make promises to an individual to become rich or powerful. But one thing for sure, it helps develop one’s personality and molds an individual to become a better person. Education widens one’s horizons to discover his/her potentials. It makes everyone smarter on decision making by applying the theories, principles and experiences he/she learnt in schools. Nevertheless, Education is still the best investment so far that everyone need to consider.
I would say, that if I will leave a legacy to my kids, it should be their professions on their chosen fields. Once they will get it, I am confident that they can stand by their own with firmness that they could not be easily topple down on whatever challenges they will meet ahead.
by admin | Mar 16, 2011 | My Point, Soft Skills
If you lead to achieve a purpose, don’t blame anybody if you fail. Instead, blame yourself for you are the one accountable for your actions.
People around are your best resources to achieve your goal. They are there to support and not to pin you down. And, if there are times your decisions/actions have been influenced by them that resulted to failure, don’t blame them for they are not doing those decisions on your behalf.
You lead . . . and it goes with it the accountability that whatever the result ahead – either success or failure – you need to be prepared to receive either a commendation or a blame.
by admin | Mar 15, 2011 | Management, Soft Skills
If you think management is majorly involved in controlling the behavior of employees then you need to change this perception. Sad to note that many managers have this kind of thoughts. They believed that by doing so, employees would just follow and do on what they are asked to.
I would say that this is an obsolete school of thoughts in management. This may efficient for the past hundred years when the employees were far from information and learning opportunities. But, not this time! Most of the employees at present have vast background knowledge and experiences in relation to their jobs that they can use to achieve their tasks on their own way. Manager must go with the trend by changing its approach. There is a need to welcome new approaches like empowerment and service.
Managers who serve their people as a lead and a facilitator enhance efficient communication and teamwork. Employees then will be encouraged to create their own rules and procedures to achieve the organization’s goals without hesitation. Most of the time, employees are the ones serving the customers not the manager. So, how do managers show their part in an organization? It would be through serving his employees.
