Educational Leadership in Times of Crisis : Insights From Great Figures in History

This book aims to fill the gap in our knowledge about crisis management in schools, its particular characteristics, and strategies from a historical point of view. It combines knowledge about educational leadership with biographical narratives of great leaders in history who have faced a tremendous crisis successfully and from whom we can learn a lot about effective coping strategies in times of crisis. The leaders in the book represent different nations and organizations, facing political, military, economic or social crises. The book provides a deeper knowledge necessary for preparing for a possible crisis and for managing it in successful ways if it comes and adds novel insights into the field of educational administration and leadership in the twenty-first century. Contents About the Author Chapter 1: Introduction A Brief Description of the Book References Chapter 2: The Current Scholarship About Crisis Management in Organizations The Essentials of Crisis Management The Dynamic Aspects of Crisis Management Factors Affecting Crisis Management Leadership and Crisis Crisis Management in Schools References Part I: Political Crises in Times of War Chapter 3: Abraham Lincoln The Biggest Crisis in the History of the US Lessons to Learn from Lincoln’s Crisis Leadership Being Focused on Very Specific Goals High Personal Resilience Building a Climate of Open Dialogues in the School Spending the Time with the Followers Out of the Office Compassion and Empathy of Teacher’s Distress Transforming Opponents into Supporters Using First-Person Plural Language (“We”) References Chapter 4: Winston Churchill The Triumphs of Nazi Germany and the Biggest Crisis in Churchill’s Life Lessons Learned from Churchill’s Crisis Leadership Moral Judgment and Moral Vision Leading Realistically with Much Optimism I Am in the “Front” (of the Crisis)! Inspiring Speeches References Chapter 5: Charles de Gaulle The Crises in France: Occupation, Algeria, and Europe Lessons Learned from de Gaulle’s Crisis Leadership The Leader as a Unifier A Brave Innovator Heroism Is Limited Even in Times of Crisis Instigating a Crisis and Highlighting Its Dire Consequences References Chapter 6: John Kennedy The Cuban Missile Crisis Lessons Learned from Kennedy’s Crisis Leadership The Courage to Go to the Limit Calmness: Stay Relax! The Importance of Time to Think Before Responding An Analysis of the Crisis from the Enemy’s View Secretly Trading a Solution References Part II: Military Crises in Times of war Chapter 7: The Duke of Wellington The Crisis: The Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo Lessons to Learn from Wellington’s Crisis Leadership A Need for Flexible Managerial Thinking The Critical Aspect of Resource Mobilization Intelligence and Understanding of the “Lay of the Land” A Courage to Act Accessibility and Visibility in the School References Chapter 8: Alexander the Great The Invasions and Conquers Lessons Learned from Alexander’s Crisis Leadership Crisis Prevention Through Collaboration with the (Alien) Community Attentiveness to the Followers’ Distress and Desires Rapid, Innovative, and Improvised Responses References Chapter 9: Elizabeth I The Defeat of the Spanish Armada Lessons Learned from Elizabeth’s Crisis Management Seeking for Allies Boldness: Unafraid of the Spanish Armada Keeping Up Appearances Understanding the Limit of Power References Chapter 10: Napoleon Bonaparte The Crisis: The Battle of Austerlitz Lessons Learned from Napoleon’s Crisis Management Strategic Planning Speed of Response and a Sense of Urgency Maneuver: The Art of Deception The Talented Employees Ought to Be Promoted References Part III: Insights from Social and Economic Crises Chapter 11: Theodore Roosevelt A Great Strike in the Anthracite Coal Fields of Pennsylvania Lessons Learned from Roosevelt’s Crisis Leadership Taking Responsibility Over the Crisis High Emotional Intelligence and Social Awareness Peaceful Negotiation—Arbitration References Chapter 12: Franklin D. Roosevelt The Great Depression and the New Deal Lessons Learned from F.D.R.’s Crisis Management Revolutionary Ideas Reliance on a Wide Variety of Individuals Optimism: A Message of Hope References Chapter 13: Margaret Thatcher The Economic Crises in the 1970s and the 1980s Lessons Learned from Thatcher’s Crisis Leadership A Very Expansive Solution to (Economic) Crises The Gap Between Expected Solutions and the Final Solutions References Chapter 14: Toward a Practical Model of Crisis Management in Our Schools Phase One: Understanding the Crisis and Its Elements Phase Two: Moving to Action from Multiple Views References Index