Arab Educational Information Network

This article discusses the ramifications of inappropriate leadership style(s) and practices of those leaders- sub-leaders on their subordinates (staff members) at the Faculty of Education (FE), Taibah University. Re-examining leadership models- styles at the FE in particular as an exemplar college of the university in general, this paper diagnoses leadership status quo (as supported by certain practices) against appropriateness to the world development, new theories and the stakeholders (claimed) vision for development. Adopting the critical theory, collaboratively with a team of practitioners (staff of the department of School Administration at the FE), an investigation was undertaken echoing action research principles with transformative mission aiming at problem-posing: i.e. tracing leadership-related activities, and critiquing the agenda behind such model- practices taken as naturalized notions. Findings of the study indicated existence of inadequacy at the leadership level. As the situation evokes necessity for action, the study empowers "theory and practice" as internalized twin- a stance of the critical theory. The action attempted (Sustainable Dialogues and Consultation Project, SDCP) is an introductory step for a holistic plan for change at the FE and the university setting. Interviews were administered to detect the impact of such initiative-as-action project. Analysis of the interviews data has revealed three facts: desperate need for change- development, effectiveness of the project taken by the staff members, and appropriateness of the „Dialogue‟ styles followed to convince leaders- sub-leaders about taking action for change in the leadership models. (Published abstract)