Currently, in my EDUC5205G course, I am learning about the differences between being a manager and being a leader. Previously, I had considered both to be one in the same. Now that I have read articles and watched the videos assigned, I can say that they really are nothing alike!
According to The Wall Street Journal, a manager’s job is "to plan, organize and coordinate" while a leader’s job is "to inspire and motivate". As an intermediate teacher, I wonder what my own role is in the classroom. Am I a leader or am I a manager? Originally, I thought I would end up being more of a manager. Using the Educational Business Articles' website, I decided to use their criteria of differentiating managers and leaders and apply it to my teaching context to see how I performed. Here are my results:
How I am most like a manager:
Planning: I plan units and daily lessons
Organizing: I organize the class at the beginning of the year and throughout in terms of seating arrangements, materials, and decor.
Controlling: I control the class in terms of behaviour
Coordinating: I coordinate projects the students will be completing and whom will be working together
Resource Use: I ensure students are using the classroom resources effectively and that they are picking the right tools for the right task
Time Management: I schedule due dates and make sure students are meeting their deadlines. I also make sure I am coordinating my day according to the time allotted.
Decision Making: I make many decisions throughout the day in terms of what I deem is appropriate in multiple circumstances (behaviour, scheduling, organization)
Problem-solving: A big chunk of what I do is trying to solve and control social problems that may appear amongst classmates
How I am most like a leader:
Vision: I have big ideas, learning goals and objectives that I consider before any planning is accomplished. I also envision how I would like my classroom to operate
Motivation: I ensure I motivate the students to succeed
Inspiration: I try to inspire students to be the best versions of themselves by modeling, using pep-talks and keeping them engaged
Persuasion: I try and persuade students to do the right thing
Team-Work: I encourage students to work together and try to show them that more heads are better than one.
Building Relationships: A big part of being a teacher is building relationships with your students. This is the only way they will trust you, listen to you and care.
Listening: I listen to students and try to help whenever/wherever I can
Counseling: I feel like a counselor when we encounter social issues together in class or in one-on-one settings
Coaching: I facilitate students' learning and give them freedom to learn and grow
Teaching: I model and show students the right way
Mentoring: I impart my wisdom and help students out in different ways
These results were surprising to me as I had originally thought that most of what teachers did included managerial tasks. I guess it comes so naturally that I don't even notice that a lot of what I do includes being a leader.
After analyzing the results using the criteria listed above, it is clear that there is a nice balance in a teacher's role. A good teacher needs to be both a leader and a manager. We need to remember that one of our most important roles is to be a great leader for our future generations. If we don't teach them to be great leaders, who will?
Check out the following article that further shows how teachers are great leaders:
References:
Chang, D. (2013, November 8). 9 Reasons Great Teachers Make Great Leaders. Retrieved May 27, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-chang/9-reasons-great-teachers-_b_4236859.html
What is the Difference Between Management and Leadership? (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2016, from http://guides.wsj.com/management/developing-a-leadership-style/what-is-the-difference-between-management-and-leadership/
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