Abstract
M.Ed. (Educational Management)
The teaching profession currently finds itself in a period of rapid changes and progress. This is particularly applicable to the management style and ingenuity required of educational leaders. It will therefore be incumbent upon the Head of Department: Afrikaans to keep up with latest development in management to provide quality teaching and learning. If teachers are to reach their optimum potential as educators, the Head of Department: Afrikaans must display the highest standard of supportive leadership. Analysis of the leadership task of the Head of Department: Afrikaans indicates that the modern view on leadership focuses on the potential to be
found in the members of the Afrikaans Department. If the Head of Department:
Afrikaans identifies himself with this viewpoint and if he applies his acquired leadership skills to this end, he will succeed in influencing his staff members to the extent that this positive motivation becomes manifested in those staff members who manage to sustain a high level of dedication in their work situation without constant monitoring. It is also imperative for the Head of Department: Afrikaans to become
aware of the most effective leadership principles in both theory and practice. The leader that strives to create an open work climate, will receive the benefits of total participation as well as improved interpersonal relationships between himself and his staff members in the department. Apart from the climate that needs to be open and easy, it is also important that the leader should consider the specific situation in which they interact as a work group as a determining factor in the choice, and practice, of leadership styles. The congruency leadership model of Nicholls proves exceptionally
appropriate in this regard. Another responsibility of the Head of Department: Afrikaans will be to attain a high degree of functional efficiency within his department. In this
regard it will also be necessary for him to be proficient in an appropriate leadership style. The Principal of the school needs to delegate some leadership responsibility to the Head of Department: Afrikaans to the extent that he will fulfill a supportive role. Formal, standardised supervision should make way for a more fluent, ennobling way of supervision. In the light of the aforegoing statement, the real value of clinical supervision as the primary leadership role of the DSA rests upon his ability to facilitate the professional development of staff members and to improve their teaching skills.