Leadership practices of school principal through a distributed leadership lens: a case study of a secondary school in urban Pakistan

Purpose Unless the expertise of multiple teachers is availed, it is very unlikely for an individual leader to bring improvement especially at classroom level. This realization had led to the emergence of distributed leadership which is about engaging multiple individuals in leadership roles. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of school leadership in distributing leadership to teachers in a private secondary school in an urban context of Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Using qualitative approach and case study method, the research collects data from school leaders and teachers involved in leadership roles through interviews. Findings It was found that leadership facilitates distributed leadership through formulating a vision to develop teachers, enhancing the capacity of individuals involved in leadership roles, establishing a culture of trust, and creating opportunities for interaction and collaboration among teachers. Practical implications School leadership should distribute leadership to teachers in order to utilize the potential of multiple individuals which will ultimately lead to school improvement through initiatives from within. Educational reformers should incorporate the concept of distributed leadership in the professional development programmes designed for school leaders and teachers. Originality/value The study is first of its nature which reports on distributed leadership from a private sector school of Pakistan based on original data.