Effective School Management

Signs of inappropriate use of assertive behaviour
To a subordinate
(1) The subordinate may adopt a passive role: ‘If my boss will not listen to
my ideas, I will not contribute unless specifically asked or told to do so.’
If you have a passive subordinate, you should always ask whether this is
a basic orientation or whether you have caused it! A head of department
once said to us: ‘I am paid to take decisions and I do so. My worst
problem as head of department is that I have “turned off” teachers in my
department and I can’t seem to motivate them.’
(2) The subordinate may react politically, and start to bypass you by giving
his or her ideas and suggestions to others who are more interested – thus
competing rather than contributing.
(3) There may be a direct rebellion or protest. (As we have seen, some
assertive bosses when faced by this move sharply into a solicitous role.
This solicitous approach is usually short lived.)
To an equal
(1) Some equals will respond in equally assertive terms and a win–lose
conflict may quickly develop (Chapter 7).
(2) Other colleagues of a ‘solicitous’ disposition may ‘smooth’ the situation
by not responding strongly. However, they may then undermine your
position in less obvious ways.