Leading with Heart: Teachers' Insights on Principals' Soft Skills and their Impact on Performance in Irbid Governorate

This study aimed to examine the degree of soft leadership skills practiced by school principals in Irbid Governorate and its correlation with their performance. Utilizing a descriptive correlational approach, a stratified random sample of 376 teachers provided responses to a carefully designed questionnaire. The findings indicate that the practice of soft leadership skills among school principals in Irbid Governorate is at a medium level, correlating with a similar medium performance level among the principals themselves. Notably, a statistically significant positive correlation was identified at the significance level (α = 0.05) between the principals' practice of soft leadership skills and their performance. Additionally, observational notes were employed as a qualitative method to enrich the data and provide deeper insights into the aspects of leadership practices in the schools.  The implications of this research highlight the critical importance of soft leadership skills in enhancing school effectiveness. By fostering these skills, principals can influence their own performance and create a more supportive and collaborative educational environment. The study suggests that targeted professional development programs focusing on soft leadership skills could be instrumental in improving not only principals' performance but also the overall school atmosphere, positively impacting student outcomes.Top of Form