Principal's leadership style and school organizational health in Iran and India: A cross - cultural study

Abstract Today one of the key factors responsible for success of schools in all the countries is the health of the organization in these schools. There are numerous factors, which affect the success of the schools. Some of them are extensive support by parents and community, strong system of communication within the school and outside the school, appropriate socio-psychological atmosphere for work, supportive environment for staff, practice or existence of problem solving process, interaction trust, and respect among teacher etc. Nevertheless, leadership behaviour of school principals is a key factor, which affects school organizational health and finally performance of the schools. On the one hand, teachers work in the schools and play formal roles in relation to their functions and implementation of educational goals; on the other hand, they are educated persons with various needs, as they have special personality and attitudes as well as expectations and individual purposes. The principals can implement educational objectives as well as teacher's individual goals, with appropriate decisions and leadership styles. Accordingly, this paper examined the difference among Iranian and Indian secondary school principals in relation to leadership style as well as organizational health of their schools as perceived by teachers. Further, the research investigated relationship between leadership style and organizational health on the basis of difference between two groups of principals that rated as high and low in leadership style on organizational health of their schools.