Leadership in a culturally diverse environment: perspectives from international school leaders in Malaysia

Abstract

ABSTRACT School leaders employ essential skills and requisites to lead culturally diversified teams in order to achieve organizational objectives. This study aims to uncover the leadership styles of international school leaders in the culturally diverse environment of Malaysia. In uncovering perspectives on cultural diversity, this exploration employs a qualitative approach using interviews with four school leaders, observation field notes and documentary analysis from three international schools. Qualitative data analysis rendered a contextualization of instructional and transformational leadership attributes in international school leadership. The perspectives of school leaders specified practices of creating a shared mission and vision through the school’s core values, curriculum and co-curricular activities while encouraging harmonious interaction among the members of the international school community. Despite the presence of challenges stemming from cultural differences, the school leaders highlighted the vitality of their role in providing a safe learning environment. Hence, this paper provides guidelines to prepare potential school leaders with the essential leadership skills for international schools in multicultural environments and for the advancement of culturally responsive leadership in the globalized era of the 21st century.