Teacher empowerment and principal leadership: Understanding the influence process

Traditionally, principals have been held accountable for the effectiveness of schools. This continues to be largely true as principals work to influen ce the change process toward increased teacher involvement and empowerment As principals initiate these changes, they do so primarily through interact ions with the faculty. One explanation for a principal's influence may be s ocial Influence theory from social psychology. Social influence theory sugg ests that credibility (a combination of expertness and trustworthiness) and social attractiveness are potent and persuasive elements of influence Usin g social influence theory components, the purpose of this study was to inve stigate the relationship of the principal's social influence and teacher em powerment Results of the study indicated that teacher empowerment is most c losely related to principal's social attractiveness (perceived similarity t o teachers) and trustworthiness (perceived willingness to suppress one's ow n self-interest for The benefit of the school).