Leading for Results

Book excerpt: Praise for the First Edition: Sparks rejects simplistic solutions to school improvement, and honors the practical knowledge and expertise of educators." —Richard DuFour, Educational Author and Consultant "Dennis Sparks has given us a practical, original, and tough-minded book about what schools need now. An excellent book—but even more, a book to act on." —Mike Schmoker, Consultant and Author "In this inventive ′self-help′′handbook for educators, Dennis Sparks challenges and helps us—not to do something but to be something different." —Roland S. Barth, Author, Lessons Learned Improve teaching and learning in your school by fostering personal and organizational change! Authentic or transformational leadership flows from self-awareness regarding intentions, values, and feelings and its influence is reflected in a leader′s actions. Leading for Results, Second Edition, focuses on the educational leader′s role in actualizing human potential and unleashing individual and organizational energy, while promoting extraordinary performance in "ordinary" people by first changing within oneself. In this updated edition featuring 18 new thought-provoking essays, Dennis Sparks shows how school leaders can promote extraordinary changes, be accountable, and achieve meaningful results for schools, districts, and their personal lives. Using bold theories about education, leadership, teaching, and student learning, you′ll learn how to make change happen, create usable strategies, commit to action, and achieve goals by Examining your assumptions and producing results-oriented thoughts, words, and actions Deepening your understanding of important issues related to the interpersonal challenges of change Engaging in next-action thinking and applying what you′ve learned This powerful resource helps leaders to recognize their capacity for making a tremendous difference in their organizations, ensuring ultimate success!