Exploring teachers’ perceptions of how leadership styles influence performance of high schools in Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho

Abstract

In this global competitive environment, effective leadership style is necessary to reduce the attrition rate. It is only through effective leadership styles of principals that it becomes possible to achieve organizational (school) goals productively because their leadership styles have an influence on teachers and students’ performance and school effectiveness. This study assessed teachers’ perceptions of how school leadership styles influenced school performance and effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to identify the leadership styles adopted principals to improve student performance and the effectiveness of their schools. To achieve this, a qualitative methodology was adopted using a case study design and interviews, observation, focus group discussions and document analysis to generate data from two purposefully selected high schools with different academic performances in Mohale’s Hoek urban. The study found that transformational, participative, instructional, and situational leadership styles were the best for school performance and its effectiveness. This says no leadership style can work in isolation and no leader can utilize one style in all situations. Therefore, it is essential that today’s leaders recognize and incorporate elements from various leadership styles to apply in unique situations in their organisations. The study further found that it is imperative for leaders to possess features such as effective communication, interpersonal and leadership skills within their repertoire of styles for best outcomes in a school. The study recommends, among others, that the Government of Lesotho, through the Ministry of Education and Training should introduce professional school leadership programmes in all teachers’ training institutions in the country.