Transcending communication barriers: A case for hybrid communication style by a woman school principal within a rural setting

Abstract

This article is based on the findings of a qualitative study that was conducted at a rural, secondary school in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The aim of the study was to  explore the communication strategies of a woman principal in a secondary school. The woman principal and her staff were interviewed individually. Non participant  observations were also done. The school was identified through reputational sampling. The findings of the study revealed that women school principals at schools in rural  areas are able to overcome communication barriers by using a hybrid communication style. The principal also uses diverse channels of communication, such as personal encounters, meetings, delegation, and written communication. The findings also  suggest that she rises above the constraints of cultural traditional communication  barriers. Therefore, communication can be improved by combining both feminine and masculine styles of communication, because male and female leaders can adapt to the demands of leadership in the transformational mode.

Key words: secondary school; transformational leadership; channels of communication; cultural barriers