The Relationship Between Leadership Styles and Conflict Management Behaviours of Primary School Principals

  ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates the relationship between the leadership style and conflict management behaviors of primary school principals in one of the districts in Bhutan. The study aims to identify the types of leadership styles and conflict management behaviors exhibited by primary school principals, as well as to explore the correlation between these two variables. The research is based on both qualitative and quantitative methodology, utilizing semi structured interview for 18 primary school principals and questionnaire to gather data from 129 primary school teachers working in the focused district. The results revealed that the principals were significantly using consultative followed by benevolent and participative group leadership styles. Regarding conflict management behaviours, they were found to be using collaborative conflict management behaviours to the optimum level followed in order by other behaviours like mixed conflict behaviours, accommodating, compromising, competing and avoiding to the minimum usage. This confirmed the close relationship between leadership styles and conflict management behaviours with majority of them using consultative leadership behaviours integrated with collaborative conflict management behaviours at times of resolving conflicts. This research contributes to the existing literature on leadership and conflict management in the educational context and provides insights into the leadership and conflict management practices of teachers in the chosen district in Bhutan. It may also serve as a reference for future studies in the field of educational leadership and conflict management.