Conditions of Distributed Leadership
Laurie King
Distributed leadership means more than shared leadership. Too frequently, discussions of distributed leadership end prematurely with an acknowledgment that multiple individuals take responsibility for leadership: that there is a leader plus other leaders at work in the school.
Though essential, this "leader-plus aspect" is not sufficient to capture the complexity of the practice of leadership. From a distributed perspective, it is the collective interactions among leaders, followers, and their situation that is paramount. (James P. Spillane, Distributed Leadership, 2012)
The following conditions facilitate shared/distributed leadership.
• Clear and shared mission/vision
• Structures to facilitate planning and discussion
• Relational Trust
• A culture that supports collaboration
Think about what each condition looks like and sounds like within your school.