The journey of leadership: an autoethnography

Abstract

This study uses autoethnography as a research method to reflect on the impact the author’s life and career influences have had on the success of his role as a vice principal in a new school. Leadership theory was also examined to provide a theoretical understanding of the author’s experience. The interplay between expectations, influences, and reality were examined to illustrate the complexity of the authors experience as a school based administrator. Themes of leading with intense moral purpose, strong communication, and trust and relationships with employees emerged as the author strived to be a successful formal school leader in a new school. Through these lenses, autoethnographic research was used as means to deeply reflect on personal leadership development while looking at how external expectations and dynamics interact with leadership qualities to define role effectiveness.