Abstract
Women principals employ distinct leadership strategies to guide and enhance their staff while implementing an internally developed teacher measurement tool. This research seeks to identify these women principals' specific leadership strategies and their correlation with contemporary leadership theories. Seven principals from an independent school group were interviewed, and their responses were analysed using semi-structured interviews. The findings indicated that these principals manifest distinct feminine traits that engender a sense of support and motivation among staff. Key strategies include open communication, collaborative efforts, and a strong emphasis on individual development and growth. Techniques such as classroom observations, an open-door policy, and structured dialogues underscore their effective leadership approach. These principals efficiently adjust their methods according to individual personalities, maintaining their unique leadership style and strategies to ensure optimal learner results. Despite prevailing societal and institutional challenges in a male-dominated educational landscape globally and locally, the research emphasises that women principals have effectively reshaped leadership narratives, steering their institutions towards success. Further studies incorporating a broader pool of women principals or contrasting male and female leadership strategies could yield valuable insights.
Keywords: female leadership; leadership challenges; principals; strategies; teacher measurement