Transparency
Transparency.
According to Kramer (2011), a leader must set an example for the group. Kramer
(2011) encourages leaders to ask the following questions: “What example am I setting,
am I demonstrating a balanced life to my team, are my actions in line with my
beliefs and values?” (p. 93). Transparency
is closely tied to self-awareness and many of the same questions can be asked
when a leader is personally reflecting on their inner beliefs and ideas.
Freeman and Stewart (2006) further extend on the idea of transparency when they
highlight that too many leaders have laminated value cards in their wallets,
but do not actively live those values within their organization. It is important
for the actions of the leader to replicate the values and actions that the institution
encourages (Tanner et al. 2010, p. 226). According to one study, individuals interviewed
identified as being more strongly influenced by leaders who show high amounts
of transparency within their work environment (Brown
& Trevino, 2006, p. 600). This transparency was identified through
characteristics such as caring, honesty, fairness and accountability of the
leaders. An extension of transparency for a school leader should be a
dedication to authentic knowledge. This implies that a school leader
“understands that knowledge is a dialogue between the intelligences of learners
and the intelligences found in the natural, social, and cultural worlds”
(Starratt, 2004, p. 76). This approach requires that the school learner has
tremendous respect for learning and the different ways students can learn.
