FOCUS: 

This session will introduce staff to the AITSL Middle Leader's Enabling Dispositions, with a focus on Disposition 4: Perseverance and resilience.

OVERVIEW:

Perseverance is the “…voluntary continuation of a goal-directed action in spite of obstacles, difficulties or discouragement”. It is motivated by a deep internal commitment to the improvement goal, rather than extrinsic pressures.

Perseverance is a desirable disposition for excellent educational leaders because it may take several conscientious attempts before difficult problems can be resolved. Improvement attempts can fail because of a culture of repeated initiation and adoption of new approaches, rather than perseverance with the more difficult work of sustaining consistent, high-quality implementation of one or two well thought out strategies.

Perseverance must be exercised in conjunction with open-mindedness, so the excellent leader can recognise when a well implemented strategy is proving ineffective. Perseverance should be directed towards improvement rather than towards sustaining strategies that are not working.

Perseverance is also supported when a culture rewards persistent effort, has an understanding that failing is part of learning. This positive environment supports risk taking, innovation and learning from failure. Evidence-based initiatives are the expectation and implementation is monitored closely and evaluated.

PRESENTER: 

Mia Kafieris