How Personal, Professional and Contextual Factors Influence Portuguese Principals’ Leadership Practices

Drawing on the results of a three-year research project, this paper focuses on the perceptions of principals from across Portugal of the influences on their exercise of school leadership. In total, 379 principals participated. Results pointed to leadership training as the strongest perceived influence on their practices in redesigning the organization, use of data, and use of observations. The type of school is the least predictive factor of leadership practices. While it is important that policies aimed at leadership training and development pay attention to contextual factors, the main focus for improvement should, however, be on principals’ personal and professional factors.