What does this research mean for the field?

Primary school principals navigate external policy pressures and internal emotional demands through 'internalised leadership'—a proposed fifth 'I' to Transformational Leadership Theory—which involves concealing personal feelings and seeking safe spaces for self-care while striving for authenticity. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONTRADICTORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the lived experiences of primary school principals in Ireland and analyze how relational leadership impacts their professional roles and psychological well-being.

August 28, 2026Educational Management Administration & Leadership

An investigation into the lived experiences of primary school principals in Ireland: The role of relational leadership

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

CMCarmel McCarroll PBPhilip Bamber

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Phenomenological study uncovers relational leadership challenges in primary school principals, indicating hidden emotional burdens.

Key Points

To examine the lived experiences of primary school principals in Ireland and analyze how relational leadership impacts their professional roles and psychological well-being.
Phenomenological qualitative study investigating primary school principals in Ireland.
Evaluated the relational dimensions of authentic leadership and transformational leadership theory within the context of national educational policy pressures.
Principals actively negotiate tensions between external departmental policy expectations and authenticity by creating safe spaces for collective peer support and self-care.
Expands transformational leadership theory's four 'I's by identifying a fifth construct, 'internalised leadership', characterized by emotional isolation and concealment while striving for authentic leadership.

Cite This Study

McCarroll et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9145ead15324a1df3a92de https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432261479421

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

August 28, 2026Educational Management Administration & Leadership

An investigation into the lived experiences of primary school principals in Ireland: The role of relational leadership

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

CMCarmel McCarroll PBPhilip Bamber

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Phenomenological study uncovers relational leadership challenges in primary school principals, indicating hidden emotional burdens.

Key Points

To examine the lived experiences of primary school principals in Ireland and analyze how relational leadership impacts their professional roles and psychological well-being.
Phenomenological qualitative study investigating primary school principals in Ireland.
Evaluated the relational dimensions of authentic leadership and transformational leadership theory within the context of national educational policy pressures.
Principals actively negotiate tensions between external departmental policy expectations and authenticity by creating safe spaces for collective peer support and self-care.
Expands transformational leadership theory's four 'I's by identifying a fifth construct, 'internalised leadership', characterized by emotional isolation and concealment while striving for authentic leadership.

Cite This Study

McCarroll et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9145ead15324a1df3a92de https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432261479421

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark