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Leading through Complexity: A Single Case Study on Cultivating Agility with Cultural and Emotional Intelligence

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Title: Leading through Complexity: A Single Case Study on Cultivating Agility with Cultural and Emotional Intelligence
Language: English
Authors: Mel Martin (ORCID 0009-0004-7595-3313), Peter Y. T. Sun (ORCID 0000-0003-1634-9701), Sheralyn Cook (ORCID 0000-0001-6058-6937)
Source: Journal of Educational Leadership, Policy and Practice. 2025 39:34-50.
Availability: Paradigm Publishing Services, a company of De Gruyter Poland. Nowogrodzka 4/3, 00-513 Warsaw, Poland. Tel: +48-22-245-3355; e-mail: contact@pps.pub; Web site: https://paradigmpublishingservices.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Elementary Schools, Principals, School Administration, Administrators, Case Studies, Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Awareness, School Culture, Instructional Leadership, Administrator Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, Adjustment (to Environment), Assistant Principals, Elementary School Teachers
Geographic Terms: New Zealand
ISSN: 1178-8690
Abstract: Aotearoa New Zealand's educational landscape is complex, characterised by diverse cultural and emotional dynamics. This single case study explores how primary school leaders harness cultural intelligence (CQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) to inspire agility amid complexities. Set in a semi-rural context marked by leadership changes and restructuring, a positive school culture has been fostered, making it a school where staff feel proud to teach and eager to send their own children. Using a qualitative constructivist grounded theory approach, data was gathered through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with the principal, leadership team, and teachers. Three key themes emerged. First, leaders begin by identifying their own purpose and intentionally building trust with their teams and community. From this foundation, leaders draw upon deliberate actions that align their purpose and amplify energy to create an inclusive agile environment. Thirdly, the wider environment influences the leader's effectiveness and shapes their collective ability to navigate complexity. The findings underscore the crucial need for educational leaders to be agile. To effectively navigate the complexities of modern leadership, they must cultivate agility by applying a blend of CQ, EQ and cognitive flexibility (CF) to inspire their teams. This combination empowers and inspires their teams, fostering an inclusive, resilient and adaptive culture. Failing to do so risks creating a culture that cannot withstand the complexities and challenges evident in contemporary leadership.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1487371
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Leading through Complexity: A Single Case Study on Cultivating Agility with Cultural and Emotional Intelligence
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mel+Martin%22">Mel Martin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7595-3313">0009-0004-7595-3313</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Peter+Y%2E+T%2E+Sun%22">Peter Y. T. Sun</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1634-9701">0000-0003-1634-9701</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sheralyn+Cook%22">Sheralyn Cook</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6058-6937">0000-0001-6058-6937</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Educational+Leadership%2C+Policy+and+Practice%22"><i>Journal of Educational Leadership, Policy and Practice</i></searchLink>. 2025 39:34-50.
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  Data: Paradigm Publishing Services, a company of De Gruyter Poland. Nowogrodzka 4/3, 00-513 Warsaw, Poland. Tel: +48-22-245-3355; e-mail: contact@pps.pub; Web site: https://paradigmpublishingservices.com/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Schools%22">Elementary Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Principals%22">Principals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Administration%22">School Administration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrators%22">Administrators</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Case+Studies%22">Case Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotional+Intelligence%22">Emotional Intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Awareness%22">Cultural Awareness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Culture%22">School Culture</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Leadership%22">Instructional Leadership</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrator+Attitudes%22">Administrator Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adjustment+%28to+Environment%29%22">Adjustment (to Environment)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Assistant+Principals%22">Assistant Principals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Teachers%22">Elementary School Teachers</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+Zealand%22">New Zealand</searchLink>
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  Data: 1178-8690
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  Data: Aotearoa New Zealand's educational landscape is complex, characterised by diverse cultural and emotional dynamics. This single case study explores how primary school leaders harness cultural intelligence (CQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) to inspire agility amid complexities. Set in a semi-rural context marked by leadership changes and restructuring, a positive school culture has been fostered, making it a school where staff feel proud to teach and eager to send their own children. Using a qualitative constructivist grounded theory approach, data was gathered through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with the principal, leadership team, and teachers. Three key themes emerged. First, leaders begin by identifying their own purpose and intentionally building trust with their teams and community. From this foundation, leaders draw upon deliberate actions that align their purpose and amplify energy to create an inclusive agile environment. Thirdly, the wider environment influences the leader's effectiveness and shapes their collective ability to navigate complexity. The findings underscore the crucial need for educational leaders to be agile. To effectively navigate the complexities of modern leadership, they must cultivate agility by applying a blend of CQ, EQ and cognitive flexibility (CF) to inspire their teams. This combination empowers and inspires their teams, fostering an inclusive, resilient and adaptive culture. Failing to do so risks creating a culture that cannot withstand the complexities and challenges evident in contemporary leadership.
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1487371
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1487371
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  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 34
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Principals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Administration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Administrators
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Case Studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotional Intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cultural Awareness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Culture
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Leadership
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Administrator Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adjustment (to Environment)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Assistant Principals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: New Zealand
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Leading through Complexity: A Single Case Study on Cultivating Agility with Cultural and Emotional Intelligence
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            NameFull: Peter Y. T. Sun
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              Y: 2025
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              Value: 39
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