Educational Leadership

Personal Growth for Professional Development

'This wide-ranging and thought-provoking book provides an alternative approach to personal and professional leadership development. Although directed at headteachers, it has much to say to all staff irrespective of whether they are in formal positions of leadership.

Given the increased attention to professional development, this is a timely publication, and will cause those who read it reflect as well as providing a wealth of approaches and ideas which can be used in their school' - Colin Parker, Headteacher of King Edward VI Aston School, Managing Schools Today

`This is an exceptionally good book that clearly brings together the author's experience as a headteacher and academic. Harry Tomlinson is an educationalist with deep insights into the personal development dimension of leadership. This is not your standard leadership book; instead it is a unique set of ideas, concepts and observations that comprehensively covers 'the how' of building leadership abilities.With twenty chapters, this is a significant resource for practitioners, leadership developers and academics' - Professor Brent Davies, International Journal Educational Management

`This is undeniably, a terrifically rich and well-researched text which could be the starting point for a variety of personal development journeys. It has enormous value in asserting the importance of personal growth as the foundation for professional development' - Times Education Supplement

`This book will undoubtedly help school leaders and potential leaders acquire a basic understanding of the essential elements in understanding themselves and others in the professional context' - Times Educational Supplement

There are many books about professional development for leaders in schools and teachers, particularly in the context of performance management. Though this book takes account of these, the focus is initially very much on personal development through self-understanding and self-management, because this has to be the basis for profound professional development.

This book provides an alternative approach to personal and professional leadership development. For the first time this wide range of topics has been covered in a book on educational leadership. Practical activities are included to encourage the learning process. The first part of the book looks at the individual and the personal learning, development of emotional intelligence and modeling excellence which provide the basis for professional development. In the middle chapters the author focuses on the interpersonal and team development processes such as career management, coaching and decision making. The concluding chapters explore issues at the school level but always concentrating on the individual leadership development required. These include major current concerns such as knowledge management, the learning organization and the work-life balance. The author reaches out to include evidence from beyond the world of schools and education in order to enhance understanding.

This book provides an in-depth resource and a learning opportunity for all those concerned with educational leadership.