The Relational Leader - (Educational Leadership: Innovative, Critical and Interdisciplinary Perspectives) by Yi-Hwa Liou & Alan J Daly (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Highlighting leadership from a social and relational perspective, this book has a particular emphasis on the innovative role that social networks play in systems change. The social systems engaged in this volume cut across a wide array of stakeholder groups, ranging from student learners, pre-service/in-service teachers, administrators, community leaders, and out to organizations and communities that reflect well beyond the education sector, showcasing diverse perspectives from multiple areas and international settings.

Bringing together 32 distinguished scholars from Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Taiwan, the UK and the USA, this book explores the use of social networks in education across different contexts and settings, connecting it with leadership practice that works at these settings for change. The contributors also examine online and virtual social behaviors and their connections to face to face networks. Ultimately, the volume showcases that leadership is social influence through examining a variety of social systems through social relationships.

In addition to the breadth of studies connecting innovative leadership research to practice in this volume, the contributors also explore a new area of social networks and leadership by examining online and virtual social behaviors and their connections to face to face networks. Ultimately, the selected chapters in this volume make the point that "leadership is social influence" through examining a variety of social systems through social relationships.

Review Quotes

In bringing together an array of international perspectives and lenses focusing on different levels of social networking and their implications, Yi-Hwa Liou and Alan Daly have created a compelling case for network literacy and associated intentional leadership action. Frequently drawing on fresh insights from doctoral research, the book contains valuable messages for school and system leaders, researchers, policy makers and educational partners.

This edited volume highlights leadership from a social and relational perspective across different contexts and settings, with a particular focus on the role of social networks in system change, involving a wide range of stakeholder groups.

This excellent book focuses on how leaders can leverage the power of social networks to shape educational change. School leadership is redefined as the ability to spark and direct fluid learning environments through the interaction of relationships and resources. TheRelational Leader offers a new, dynamic vision of leadership in education.

About the Author

Yi-Hwa Liou is Professor in the Department of Educational Management at the National Taipei University of Education, Taiwan.

Alan J. Daly is Professor in the Department of Education Studies at the University of California, San Diego, USA.