The Challenges in Teaching Western Conceptualization of Transformational Leadership to Eastern Educators

Abstract

This study was about teaching the Western conceptualization of transformational leadership to Eastern educators and its impact on their thinking and practice. The mixed study design used provided multiple sets of data to find out if any changes were occurring in the thinking and practice of Indian educational leaders who attended the training sessions conducted across India. The data showed that majority of the participants readily accepted the new knowledge about transformational leadership but were unable to make changes in their thinking and practice. However, the women participants, Christians and those with undergraduate degrees showed evidences of change in their thinking. For other participants the cultural barriers worked in a divergent manner to preserve what they know about leadership.