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Confucius as transformational leader: lessons for ESL leadership

Leilei Bi (Office of International Relations, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China)
John Ehrich (School of Education, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia)
Lisa C. Ehrich (School of Learning & Professional Studies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia)

International Journal of Educational Management

ISSN: 0951-354X

Article publication date: 11 May 2012

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the leadership values and practices of Confucius in the light of transformational leadership theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is literature based.

Findings

The paper discusses four key dimensions of transformational leadership theory: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration and uses these as a framework for exploring the values of and teaching approach used by Confucius. The key message of the paper is that educational leaders have much to learn from a Confucian leadership style that is fundamentally transformational in nature and encompasses moral/ethical, socially critical, and democratic dimensions.

Practical implications

The paper presents a case study of an English as a second language (ESL) school and identifies several practical suggestions for ESL leaders to consider if they are to follow the tenets of Confucius's teachings.

Originality/value

The paper is original as it links the values and practices of Confucius to transformational leadership theory and considers how this theory might look in practice for leaders within a contemporary ESL school context.

Keywords

Citation

Bi, L., Ehrich, J. and Ehrich, L.C. (2012), "Confucius as transformational leader: lessons for ESL leadership", International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 391-402. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513541211227791

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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