They provide a sense of purpose and meaning that can unite people in a common cause. Like transformational leadership, facilitative strategies invite followers to commit effort and psychic energy to the common cause. The leader works in the background, not at the center of the stage. However, facilitative strategies may create ambiguity and discomfort, blurring accountability and forcing employees to adopt new roles and relationships. Facilitation takes time, frustrating administrators who are constantly being pressured to act immediately.
Some researchers urge leaders to use multiple strategies.
Deal and Peterson argue that effective principals must be well-organized managers and artistic, passionate leaders. We know relatively little about how principals make strategic choices, but some basic guidelines can be inferred from the literature. Leaders should use strategies flexibly. Conversely, he notes that teachers sometimes tire of shared decision-making and yearn for a responsive principal who will simply consult them and decide. Strategic choices must serve institutional values.