True North is not a matter of opinion. It is a matter of natural law. Despite social mores and fluctuating sociopolitical environments, universal truths rule. The wise leader knows this and can build commitment to a common vision among a staff holding widely diverse values.
So said Stephen Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and Principle-Centered Leadership, at a general session. Covey emphasized the importance of aligning organizational values and interpersonal behavior with natural law to create a fully functioning system. Natural law encompasses self-evident principles such as "fairness, respect, kindness, ... and maturing to live, love, learn, and leave a legacy," he asserted.
Emphasizing the importance of interpersonal relations, Covey said, "Seek first to understand. Ninety percent of problems are misunderstandings, and the other 10 percent are ameliorated by seeking to understand." We need leaders who "have patience to develop a culture in an organization."
How can principals follow Covey's advice and develop a culture, build a team, and establish trust and commitment within their schools? Their success depends heavily on their skills in the affective domain, Mariaelisa Torres-Branagan, a doctoral student at Gallaudet College, told the annual meeting of the Council of Professors of Instructional Supervision. Torres-Branagan cited the four most commonly named skills of outstanding principals: communicating, relating to the community, motivating and organizing, and observing and conferencing with teachers.
Recognizing that a leader's values will not always match those of the staff, Torres-Branagan said, "To be effective, the leader must shift the attention of staff from everyday problems ... to get them to focus on the long run, in keeping with universal values." To bring a staff to consensus around a mission all can buy into, a leader needs keenly developed skills in interpersonal relations, she added.