Leadership of School Administrators Based on The Buddha’s Conducts

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the leaderships of school administrators based on the Buddha’s conducts; and 2) to examine and confirm the leaderships of school administrators based on the Buddha’s conducts. Qualitative research was used. This research consisted of three phases. In phase 1, documentary research on leadership, school administrators’ leadership, and 45 years of the Buddha’s conducts were employed, The qualitative synthesis was used to analyze the data. Phase 2 was to study school administrators’ leaderships based on Buddha’s conducts. The data were collected by a semi-structured interview of 19 experts and analyzed by content analysis. Phase 3 was to examine and confirm of school administrators’ leaderships based on Buddha’s conducts, the data were collected by an opinionnaire from 19 experts and analyzed by frequency and percentage.

            The results were as follows:

1. 1. According to the study of the school administrators’ leadership based on the Buddha’s conducts, the leadership of the Buddha was in accordance with the following leadership theories. 1) Two trait theories included great man theory and leader – constituent interaction. 2) Eleven behavioral leadership theories included autocratic leadership, democratic leadership, laissez-faire leadership, exploitative-authoritative leadership, benevolent-authoritative leadership, consultative leadership, participative leadership, work-oriented leadership, human-oriented leadership, middle-of-the-road leadership, and teamwork leadership. 3) Four situational leadership theories included telling leadership, cooperative-oriented leadership, assignment-oriented leadership, and selling leadership. 4) Thirteen transformational leadership theories included transactional leadership, transformational leadership, spiritual leadership, super leadership, superior leadership, ethical leadership, innovative leadership, 21st century leadership, strategic leadership, Buddhist leadership, visionary leadership, charismatic leadership, and self-leadership.


2. 2. Regarding the examination and confirmation, it was found the school administrators’ leadership based on the Buddha’s conducts was accurate, appropriate, feasible, and useful.

            The finding of this research was the dormant characteristic of the Buddha had not been mentioned in the leadership theories. This was from the event when the Lord Buddha went to spent the vassa in Palilai Forest with the elephant Palilaiyaka since he was displeased with the quarrels between two groups of monks in Kosampi. Later the monks realized their mistake and reconciled after people refused to make offerings. At the end, they sent a representative to implore the Buddha to returen to Kosampi.