Page 8 - Handbook_EN

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Chapter 2 – Teachers Leaders

2.1. What it means to be a leader

As teachers, we often ask ourselves if we are leaders in the student's group we lead, but
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also in our workplace - the school organization. We all know that teacher is considered the
classroom manager, but does that mean that he is also the leader? In fact, what does it mean to
be a leader? Can we suppose a leader is in the same manager? In order to answer to this
question, we need to see how this subject is discussed in the literature.

Thus, regarding the meaning and differentiation of the manager-leader-administrator
terms, there are different points of view in the literature according to the field in which they
develop, but also by the geographical area to which belong [1].

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As example, in the USA the term "administration" is placed at the highest level and is
often synonymous with "leadership". On the other hand, the "educational leadership" in the
USA can have, in different contexts, the same meaning as "educational leadership"

"Leadership" and "management" terms can be found in different versions. "Leadership is
differentiated qualitatively and management and administration" Gronn [2] considers.
Leadership is presented as a quality that does not necessarily come from status, or from the job,
but it is something special. On the other hand, management is considered as a formal leadership,

while leadership can be regarded as an informal group, led by a leader, the head of this group.
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Leadership can be identified at the top of an organization, but others can as well do it at
different levels of the organization.

Another approach completely differentiates the two notions. Zaleznic is the first author to make
a distinction between the two categories of leaders in 1977 by the article in Harward Business

Revue "Managers and Leaders: Are They Different?" (Table 1).

Types of leaders and managers Table 1

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Leaders
Managers
Manifest impersonal, passive
Manifesting of personal and
The goal
Attitudes
active attitudes
Work
concept Stimulates work Coordinates, balances work. Accept values
compromises
offers and creates
possibilities for
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