Negotiating between two competing leadership roles: narratives of principals serving as trade union executive members.
Loading...
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This exploration study focused on school principals who are also serving as trade union
executive members. The study was conducted with three school principals, namely, two from
primary schools and one from a full-service school. The purpose of the study was to explore
these school principals’ background as well as their lived experiences. Further, the study
examined the role identities they construct of themselves, the influence of serving in a union
executive committee on school principals’ leadership practices and their negotiation between
the two contesting leadership roles. Three research puzzles were utilized as tools to generate
data, namely, what role identities do principals construct of themselves as school principals
and also as trade union leaders, how does serving in a union executive committee influence
leadership practices of principals and how do school principals serving as trade union leaders
negotiate between the two contesting leadership roles? The theoretical framework used to
understand the lived experiences of the participants consist of two theories, namely, social
identity theory and relationship leadership theory. Narrative inquiry methodology was used to
conduct this study. Data was generated by making use of unstructured interviews, collage
inquiry and artefacts inquiry. Generated data was then analysed at two levels, namely,
narrative analysis (first level of analysis) and analysis of narratives (second level of analysis).
In the process of establishing the role identities that the participating principals construct of
themselves, two themes emerged; namely, school principals first before becoming union
leaders and trade union leaders as political activists. In addition, it was found that union
inherited traits and fellow union members’ scrutiny influence the participants’ leadership
practices in schools. Again, the study put to light two critical aspects that are utilised by the
participating principals to negotiate between their two leadership roles; namely, time
management and strong collaboration within their SMTs. Finally, the study revealed that
teacher unions equip principals with skills and qualities needed to lead schools. It was then
concluded that teacher unions are another avenue from which principals who are also union
executive leaders draw quality leadership skills.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.