Sunday, March 30, 2008

Chapter 7

This is the area to post the Blog topic for Chapter 7

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

In Chapter 7, Sergiovanni examines three leadership archetypes: artists, craftsmen, and technocrats. He recognizes that "artists and technocrats have important roles to play", however he also states "it is the leader as craftsman that emerges as the critical link between vision and making vision a reality". Why does Sergiovanni feel that craftsman leadership is the key to making a vision into reality? How can we use this information to help us become effective school leaders?

Anonymous said...

According to Sergiovanni, craftsmen know how to get the job done. They are able to build strategies, develop programs, and organize human resources. In order to be effective leaders, we must strive to master the eight basic competencies explained in chapter 1of our text. The craftsmen remind me of the worker bees in a colony. They are not flamboyant like the queen, but they are dependable.

Ken Arnold said...

I agree with Angela, the craftsmem find themselves in a unique position relative to the artists and the technocrats. While the other two are stuck between unrealized visions and stringent scripts, the craftsman cobmine the two in an effort to maximize a school's potential. There must be a balance between hours of endless vision talk and a countless list of rules and procedures. Craftsmen bring the necessary balance in the designs they create.

Patricia Betteken said...

I really like Angela's comment about the worker bee. I was in a team teaching environment. I worked with an amazing visionary and I was the worker bee. She would come up with a great idea and say this would be great. Trish how can we make this work? I'm concerned in this path to leadership that sometimes we focus to much on the abstract. You can't guide a school without a vision, but you also need to be able take the right steps in the right direction. I tell my students that you can dream about where you want to go but you'll never get there without taking that first step.

Anonymous said...

I also agree that the craftsman is the link between the two. There has to be a driving force behind all aspects of a successful school and that driving force is the craftsman leader. I believe the success of the craftsman also comes from the eight competencies listed in chp. 1. Just like a good coach in sports, an effective leader will take the school to the next level and make it successful.

Anonymous said...

Craftsmen are the leaders that provide the type of leadersip that make things happen. Craftsmen create an enviroment that provides teachers with the tools and support for effective growth as an educator. In my system,our superintendent, Dr. Brannon, is a powerful craftsman. Since his tenure began two years ago, his leadership style provides our system with a sense of trust in the vision for our school system, he has created a climate that encourages input and suggestions, and he is visible in the system. He definitely leads by example and provides a very positive image in our entire community.

Anonymous said...

The Craftsman not only develops a vision, but sees it through.
A Craftsman is great at seeing other peoples qualities and combines them in such a way that makes visions a reality. He takes the bigger picture and breaks it up into parts that is better understood and can be accomplished bit by bit. The Craftsman develops a blueprint of the vision and makes sure that it is built to expectations.

Anonymous said...

When I began to read, I knew before I read the section on archetypes, that I would want to be a craftsman. To know something to the extent that you can call it a craft, usually makes you a "master" in that area. Knowledge and actions are natural and intrinsic in a craftsman. You do have to tie the others together, like most of us said, but to be able to be a craftsman is an honor.

Anonymous said...

Craftsmen provide a balance between artists and technocrats. Technocrats lack the ability to adapt to the constant stream of "messy" situations that administrators face. Artists are important for their ability to provide vision, but if they can't help a school/division where "the rubber hits the road," then they will be unable to realize that vision. The previous superintendent of my county comes to mind...

Anonymous said...

A school definantly needs a craftsman to lead. Both artist and technocrats have a role but as Sergiovanni states "craftsmen view leadership as design that transfers ideas into things."

Hopefully this information will make us aware that we need to constantly work to move our school forward.

Anonymous said...

I think the discussion on craftsman reminds us to take a vision, develop a plan, and follow it through. A great idea is just a great idea unless a craftsman steps up and makes it a reality.

Anonymous said...

Having the ability to lead toward the vision of the school is a must. Moral leadership also says that that everyone works toward the vision in realtion to the vision itself as well as duties involved. Having the entire staff working toward the same goal and using the power to approach of geting input from others will help in becoming an effective leader. Great ideas can come from a good brainstorming!!

Anonymous said...

Craftsmen is so important to the balance of leadership. I agree that it is extremely important to create, communicate, and implement a vision. It is equally important to have a strategy to see the vision carried through and accomplished.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Sergiovanni--the true hero is the craftsman who not only has to design and implement the plan that transforms the vision into reality but steward that reality through the managements of effectiveness, follow-up, and responsibility so the vision is sustained. As Angie pointed out, they aren't flamboyant, but they get the job done with their constant fidelity to doing the right thing for each child.

Anonymous said...

According to Sergiovanni, craftsmen are empathetic and effective developers of people. Craftsmen empower others, and are skilled at bringing out the best in others. They know how to turn visions into something that we can see and do. Craftsmen are very important in leadership because they are able to make others see why things are the way they are. Craftsmen have the type of personality to bring everyone together for a common goal. Craftsmen will "get the job done."

Anonymous said...

I also agree with Sergiovanni, the craftsman is the link between the vision of the school and getting others to recognize the vision and work towards it. I think knowing how to be a craftsman in given situations is vital to a schools success. These craftsman know how to get the job done and bring out the best in others.

Anonymous said...

Artists and technorats are kind of like the tools that that craftman puts into action to get the job done.

While the artists and technorats are very skilled and essential, it is the craftmen that knows just where they are needed to make the puzzle perfectly fit together.

Also, the craftman is always looking at the big picture (the entire school community), while the artist and technorats may have only a small focus area.

Ultimately, the craftman brings everything and everyone together in a way that makes the entire school community function as it should.

Mike Littleton said...

The most essential aspect of leadership is actually leading people to accomplish the goals of the school, and that is what the craftsman does. The craftsman is able to use the eight basic competencies and truly effect change in the school. This is important to realize for future effective school leaders because we need to realize that vision is important, but implementing that vison into actual school improvement is the goal for effective principals.

Anonymous said...

Sergiovanni summed up his views f
when he wrote that "Artists view leadership as a vision that transforms ideas into goals; Craftsmen view leadership as design that transfers ideas into things; and Technocrafts view leadership as a script that transfers ideas into rules, steps and procedures." He notes that all three types have a role, but the craftsmen are the ones who can be depended upon to make things work for the students.

Anonymous said...

Craftsmen are key to making vision into reality because they can take the abstract and put it into practice. Visionaries without the ability to make the vision become reality have wonderful ideas that are essentially nothing more than dreams if there are no strategies or action steps to make the vision a reality. The ISLLC standards area good guide on how to make the vision become reality.

Anonymous said...

As many have stated, craftsmen are able to carry out a vision. In order be be effective leaders we must have the ability to carry out our plans. If we don't, we aren't very good leaders.

Anonymous said...

Craftsmen are able to balance organization/management (the technocratic aspect) with the relationship building, visionary artistic style. It's definitely a hard balance to strike because many people have a personality or learning/leadership style that leans toward one side or the other. I guess the key is realizing the useful aspects of both sides and merging them together to act more like a craftsmen.

Anonymous said...

Craftsmen turn ideas into reality. Our goal as school leaders is to become craftsmen. We need to have traits from all three archetypes, but need be strongest as a craftsmen to be effective school leaders. The real work happens in implementing ideas and working with people to make things happen.
Judy Willis

Anonymous said...

Craftsmen have the ability to not only see a vision through and make it reality, but also hold it together when things may become tough. We should all strive to become craftsmen and make a vision a reality so that our school is not just another school but a great school that is noticed for having successful students along with a great faculty/staff.

Anonymous said...

I think that Craftsmen also take on the mission of finding what exactly motivates everyone, and uses that motivation to get them inovolved. Craftsmen evoke change in people and help facilitate that change for the good of the school.

Anonymous said...

I liked what Angela said in the beginning about a colony of bees. The craftsman design what they want and then make it happen just like the queen bee. She designs what she wants and then the worker bees come on board and bring it to fruition. That is what our craftsman do.

Anonymous said...

Anytime a craftsman diplays his/her work, it's intended for either display or use by the most critical consumer. Art, designs, food, athletics, etc. is put forth to please and assist it's audience. Coming forth with your finished product invites and sometimes encorages criticism and the craftsman must be prepared to back up the offering. The same can be said for a school leader. When the administrator is named for a school, suddenly, all bets are off. It's time for the "rubber to meet the road." A well-trained administrator is nice, but a craft well-honed will go miles further when it comes time to create and pursue a vision for a building. Selling the "product" to the stakehlders and bringing them with you for the ride is where the school leader can seperate him/her self from the (mediocre) pack. Adam Joyce

Anonymous said...

Craftsmen are the individuals that make things happen and can lead individuals in the right direction. That direction will usually follow the vision that has been established by the respective division. The craftsman is the one who can make sure the appropriate things are taking place to incorporate all aspects of the vision.

BJ Lasley

Anonymous said...

Being a Craftsman is truly a sign of success. When you have planned, molded, and made your masterpiece then you have accomplished what you have set out to do. But please don’t forget, the craftsmen’s job does not stop with the final project. They critique and plan how to make the next project a little better. Always finding new, better, and more efficient ways of doing things, that is the craftsmen way.
Brad Haga

Bob McCracken said...

Excellent discussion, it looks like quite a few craftsman at work!

Anonymous said...

Cheryl Burrell-Graves

Just as a craftsman in society builds and develops items from "scratch" or improves and item that is faltered, craftsmen in education fit the same title. These are the people that can take something that needs fixing and develop the plan (vision), get the resources and implement the procedure to get the job done and make it happen. These are the people focused on really creating the change that facilitates true success.

As school leaders, we must not get sucked into the status quo and also seek to improve processes and procedures so that the places that we oversee contain people that are craftsmen. This will create an environment of collegiality and forward thinking and moving to create a successful school.

Anonymous said...

Sherry Looney Said:

I agree with the comments about a craftsman. As leaders we need to be able to to craft a vision and see it through to the success of the school, staff, students, and school community. A good leader should be able to craft the vision he or she has into a reality for the school.

Anonymous said...

Patricia,
Your comment (that you share with students) is inspiring and very true! Having a vision is great, but pointless if it is not carried through. I think leading as a craftsman takes a delicate balance of want-to and know-how. I heard a quote once that is comparable to this notion..."Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome."

Amber Lam