A brief synthesis of Collins' Good to great and the social sector, and Fullan's Moral Imperative for Educational Leaders. Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become .

1. Fullan and Collins
Synthesis
February 26, 2012
by Ruslana Westerlund
Created for EDUC855
Bethel University

2. Key Points from Fullan and Collins
“Leadership is worth the
risk because the goals
extend beyond material
gain or personal
advancement.”
(Fullan, 2010)
“Leadership is about putting
yourself and your ideas on the
line, responding effectively to
the risks, and living to celebrate
the meaning of your efforts.”
(Heifet and Linsky, 2002 as
quoted in Fullan, 2010)

3. “Level 5 leadership
requires being
clever for the
greater good. It is
my responsibility to
ensure that the right
decisions happen –
even if I don’t have
the sole power to
make those
decisions, and even “The only way I can achieve that
if those decisions is if people know that I’m
could not win a motivated first and always for the
greatness of our work, not
popular vote.” myself.” (Fullan, p. 11)
(Collins, 2005)

4. What needs to change in schools?
 The individual  The system
 “Of all the influences in  “Low morale and teacher
organizational climate, frustration will make it more
leadership practices was difficult to introduce
the greatest.” (Fullan innovation and change to
talking about the Stringer, schools.” (Stringer 2002).
2002 study)

5. Strategic Directions for
Transforming Leadership in School
Systems (Collins and Fullan)
Reconceptualize the role of school leadership – Embrace Fullan’s Level 5
leadership.
Recognize and work within a continuum of development. Being aware of the
long –term goal – that we are moving along a continuum and that we want
grater decentralization is key.
Building greatness never happens in one fell swoop. Greatness is built by a
cumulative process – step by step, action by action, day by day, week by
week, year by year – turn by turn of the flywheel.
Invest in leaders developing leaders. “the success of a leadership is
not just impact on the bottom line, but on how many good leaders are
left behind after the leader’s tenure” (Collins, p. 76)
Improve the teaching profession. “If you are really good, you might be
able to join our profession” (Teach for America principle).

6. Hedgehogs v. Foxes
 We need more hedgehogs
and fewer foxes!
“A hedgehog leader is like a
strong consistent fire
whereas the fox is more like
a flash fire. Short term the fox
looks better, but long term
the burning fire still burns
with the passionate
hedgehog.”

7. The Hedgehog Concept in
Education
What are we deeply
passionate about?
How can we
develop a
sustainable
What can we be the resource engine to
best in the world at? deliver superior
performance
relative to our
mission?

8. Change is the essence of life
Be willing to surrender what you are for
what you could become

9. References:
 Collins, J. (2005) Good to great and the social sectors.
 Fullan, M. (2008) The moral imperative of school leadership.