Defining the main ethical and leading qualities of school principals

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Published: Feb 22, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/hjre.38949
Keywords:
ethical leadership in education school Principals ethical qualities leading qualities
Antonios Spyridakis
University of Crete
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8874-1369
Eleftheria Argyropoulou
University of Crete
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4235-8740
Elissavet Lintzerakou
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4670-114X
Abstract

The purpose of the present research was the precise determination of the concept of a "good" educational leader through the detection of their most important ethical and leadership characteristics. In this direction, it was considered necessary to exclusively participate in active educational staff (Principals of school units). The identification of the main ethical and leadership characteristics of an educational leader was achieved as follows:


Through bibliographic research, the ten (10) main ethical and the eleven (11) main leadership characteristics of a leader were identified. Then, initially in a pilot survey of twenty-five (25) Principals of primary and secondary level schools, and then in the main survey, with one hundred (100) participants from all regions of the country, it was requested to identify the five (5) most important features from each category and their ranking of importance. Justice (fairness), integrity and calmness (gentleness) were placed by the Principals interviewed at the top of the main ethical virtues of an educational leader, while organizational skills, the ability to inspire subordinates and empathy were chosen as their most important leadership characteristics.

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