Section Article

Effective Approaches to Management and Outcomes Achieved by Principals
Author(s): Sapna Dhillon

Abstract
This research investigates the correlation between different management styles used by school leaders and their influence on school productivity and student results. The study used a combination of quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to identify and assess important management styles such as transformational transactional and laissez-faire in terms of their usefulness in improving school performance. The results indicate that transformational leadership which involves inspiring and motivating personnel is favourably associated with increased student success and teacher satisfaction. In contrast transactional leadership which emphasises the use of incentives and punishments exhibits a moderate level of success. On the other hand laissez-faire management often results in decreased productivity and engagement. The research suggests that principals should use adaptive management practices that are customised to the unique circumstances of their schools in order to optimise educational results.