Highly Effective Manager-Leader

Elizabeth Kesterson

Drake University - EDL 279

March 2022

A highly effective manager has a complex combination of different skills, personality

traits, leadership qualities and morals. This type of leadership is essential to the successful

functioning of an organization that is able to work towards and achieve goals. A highly effective

manager must possess the following traits overall:

Clear, concise, and thoughtful communication skills, highly effective and motivational

feedback, personal/professional organization, collaboration with those throughout all

levels in the organization, is knowledgeable and visible about and through all areas

within the organization, has integrity and is ready to take ownership, continued growth

and professional learning, active listening, the ability to creatively and effectively problem

solve through a process, implements procedures and systems in place, create a culture

and climate able to trust that the workforce are implementing the work with fidelity, and

the ability to respond to data. 

These traits complement one another to create a well-rounded, servant leader who can

effectively lead the organization and those within it. According to Deming’s research, there are

14 Key Principles to Management. The 14 Points are centered around systems thinking and

impacting systemic improvement. Deming establishes that “creating constancy of purpose

toward improvement”, “cease dependence on inspections”, “improve constantly”, “institute

leadership”, “eliminate fear”, “institute education and self-improvement programs”, and “make

transformation everyone’s job” (Deming) are all key components of this success - all relating to

the points I have determined traits of a highly effective leader. 

 A highly effective leader will have clear symptoms and results of effectiveness within the

organization. Processes will be in place throughout the organization that help those within it

productively function on a daily basis – with both short- and long-term goals in mind. These

systems might still have challenges, but these challenges will promote growth and improved

processes and will be collaboratively solved with all viewpoints considered. Students and staff in

the building will be proud of the work they’re doing, will feel as though their jobs are manageable

and supported, and the culture and climate of a building will follow. Students will show growth

academically, socially and emotionally, and teachers will show growth in their teaching practice.

Stakeholders and families will be involved, and district goals will be clear to all. Overall, all

groups of people will be working to provide students with a high-quality education.

Throughout my time in education, I have seen and been affected by effective and

ineffective management processes. I think the most continued problematic process in our

system is the lack of consistency and system around managing student behavior. This lack of

consistency does not set expectations for students and leaves teachers wondering about

support. Behaviors strongly impact the productivity, relationships and overall climate of a

building. Throughout our building, we have an effective teacher evaluation system. This system

is used for our professional learning, teacher self-reflection, and improved teaching practice.

This process paired with our data tracking systems lead to overall student engagement and

growth.

Highly effective leadership has the ability to greatly influence the success of a system.

This leadership inspires others to be leaders within, all working towards a common aim. As a

future leader, I look forward to learning more about the qualities a highly effective leader

possesses.
 References

https://deming.org/explore/fourteen-points/