Dear Andy,

Before we start, what is a SIG ? Is it the same as a SIA (Special Interest Area) ?

I don't care what you call it, but people must know what's what on our forum. I've just got used to loking out for ELTM on the conference programme, would this have to change, too?

I think it is not necessary to combine the roles of manager and leader in one person. In big secondary schools these days, the tendency is to appoint two head teachers, one an administrator for the paperwork, financial stuff, timetabling etc and the other a pedagogical (not sure if I have got the right english word here?) leader who is responsible for policy changes, the whole HR aspect, the syllabus, the actual learning issues and discipline among the pupils.

Could one not keep to this distinction in ELT-M ?

Diana

More or less Diana - Special Interest Group.  The name won;t be changing before this year's conference so nobody need worry about the programme suddenly changing.

Andy

You might be interested to read Marcus Buckingham on this issue. He has a very clear and concise way of getting to the heart of these matters. Paraphrasing, he suggests that Managers are catalysts who get performance out of their employees. Leaders, on the other hand, "rally people to a better future".

This distinction implies to me that Managers implement policies and procedures whereas Leaders initiate and drive policy - possibly painting a picture where the business is going in the future.

Diana's point about 2 headteachers is interesting in this context. I wonder who would have the upper hand in case of conflict.

Yes, I've read quite a lot of the idea that leadership tends towards thinking strategically, while management is more about the level of operational (and possibly tactical) action.  Another difference is that management is something that managers do, while leadership can take place at all levels of the organisation.  

In terms of this two heads idea, I presume the "manager" is in some respects "below" the leader - in that in the hierarhcy of actions, operational activity is a part of the year on year academic cycle which is driven by strategic plans which is in turn driven by the leader's vision.  Though it does sound like it would create an interesting dynamic. 

The thing about the notion that some ELT institutions might have two "bosses", an Academic Director/Manager and an Administrative Director/Manager,as I was saying happens sometimes in schools, is not the question of heirarchy or conflict, because I think automatically people will see the Academic Director, who is the one with the vision, the charisma, the ideas, yes, the leadership, as the Head and the Administrative Director as the reliable guy who organises everything perfectly but who is basically the second-in-command.

My question is: If there is an International Diploma in Language Teaching Management (see Jenny Johnson's paper under http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/print/4914 ), is this aimed solely at the Managers or also at the Leaders?

Or to put it another way; You can train managers - but can you train leaders?

Diana

There is to be a session on the subject of Leadership and Management on Wednesday.

I found these two links about it:

http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2009/sites/iatefl/files/session/documents/Puchta%20upload_0.pdf

http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2009/sessions/62/being-teacher-management-skills-versus-leadership-qualities

Diana