Human capital leadership in school systems: principals’ metaphors

The leadership of human capital in schools is increasingly necessary, in response to the need for principals to address capacity building, knowledge and skills promotion, job satisfaction, and other qualities in ways that inspire dedication and retention among school staff. The prevailing challenges in building a quality teaching workforce, especially after the ‘great resignation’ following the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforce the need to deepen principals’ role as human capital leaders. Therefore, this study aimed to explore diverse principals’ perceptions by analyzing their metaphorical expressions for human capital leadership in complex school situations. Data from in-depth interviews with 53 high-school principals indicate that the principal’s role fundamentally involves providing opportunities for the development and motivation of the school staff while emphasizing personal growth within a collective framework. The metaphorical analysis reveals that shared responsibility between principals and teachers improves the quality of developmental outcomes. Additional findings emphasize the need for principals to cultivate professionalism, empathy, multitasking skills, creativity, and adaptability. These research insights enrich the understanding of the principal’s role as a human capital leaders and offer a deeper perspective through the use of metaphors as a figurative tool for understanding complex processes and concept.