Campus Location
Dallas Campus (Online)
Date of Award
11-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Department
Organizational Leadership
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Committee Chair or Primary Advisor
Timothy B. Jones
Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor
Leah Wickersham-Fish
Third Committee Member or Committee Reader
Janet Tareilo
Abstract
In this qualitative study, the researcher explored school leaders’ perceptions of the role of self-awareness in shaping constructive conflict management behaviors and the training and development systems that provide these leaders with essential knowledge and skills to learn and grow. The researcher limited the study to the role of the elementary campus principals and used purposive sampling to select three participants from three different districts in the state of Texas. Each participant completed the Conflict Dynamics Survey and participated in a debrief discussion of the results. Additionally, the researcher conducted interview sessions with the principals and examined online documents and evidence from each leader’s district. The study results showed that principals who cultivate self-awareness and employ constructive conflict management behaviors are better prepared to navigate the challenges of school leadership while maintaining their well-being and fostering positive educational environments. However, the research also identified a significant gap in the professional development support provided by educational organizations, particularly in enhancing principals’ interpersonal skills and conflict management. To facilitate engagement and improvement, the researcher recommends that organizational leaders utilize professional learning communities to revolutionize conflict management development, ignite a culture of self-awareness and emotional management, and create and nurture environments of learning for school principals.
Keywords: principal, conflict management, self-awareness, leadership development
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Lockhart, Laura E., "Examining the Role of Self-Awareness in Shaping Constructive Behaviors in Conflict Management: An Elementary Principal Perspective" (2024). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 831.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/831
Included in
Educational Leadership Commons, Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration Commons