It is important for early education leaders to possess solid background information but, in and of itself, it is not sufficient. Effective early education leaders also possess a number of skills which are called upon in their daily activities. While many fundamental skills are known to be found in leaders in a variety of settings, several focused skills have proven very useful for early education leaders working in state and local education agencies. These include Systems Thinking, Results-based Leadership, Communication and Relationship Building, and Leading for Continuous Improvement. These skills are typically learned rather than innately present, and take full advantage of one’s background knowledge to engage and lead.
