Wicked Leadership

Ever wondered why some problems just cannot be solved? Why some problems are so hard to get your head round? Caught yourself saying when presented the latest fad or fashion‚ but it‘s just not that simple!‘? Wicked Leadership will not only show you why this is the case, but also how you can rethink the daily challenges of school leadership and leadership development in a way that embraces complexity and wicked problems – for yourself, your teams and the school as a whole.

Neil Gilbride explores the wicked problems that affect all schools and education and how they present both a challenge and opportunity to those that lead them. Throughout there are practical examples, case studies from across the primary and secondary phases and reflective activities to help readers apply the ideas and concepts to their own context.

Outlining five key principles of wicked school leadership, the chapters cover:

• How complexity and wicked problems affect and shape how we lead in education.

• Establishing an intentional, supportive and collaborative process to get to the heart of wicked problems

• The what and how of applying actions and how to monitor their effects

• The challenges of adopting an holistic approach to development of staff

• The structures, scaffolds and working environment needed to manage and embrace wicked problems within our everyday leadership practice.

Part of the Teacher CPD Academy series from InnerDrive, this is essential reading for school leaders wanting to develop their awareness and understanding of the inherent challenges of educational leadership and respond to these successfully.