Page 41 - 2022-Jour_88-3_FINAL

Quantitative Focus
To strengthen the study, quantitative data were collected regarding each
participant’s specific style of leading. Researchers were interested in four styles
of leadership for this group because current literature on leadership for nonprofit
organizations and agencies indicates the four styles as the most prevalent: servant
leadership, transformational leadership, visionary leadership, and shared leadership
(Fritz, 2019; Greenleaf, 2002; Sohmen, 2004). Researchers wanted to determine
if one or more styles prevailed for the organization under review. Researchers Dr. Phyllis J. Broughton,
considered that findings might relate to experiences leading to the development of retired Dean of Academic
leadership skills. and Student Affairs,
Martin Community
The Leadership Styles Survey (Appendix B) was used to gather information from College, Williamston,
each participant relating to her specific style of leading. The survey was administered North Carolina, is
through Qualtrics Survey Software. currently a Teaching
Assistant Professor of
Analysis and Findings Adult Education at East
Interviews Carolina University,
Greenville, North Carolina.
Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data for this study. Following She is a member and
the recorded interviews, each was transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis applied current chapter president
to the interview transcripts permitted researchers to identify common themes— of Beta Upsilon Chapter
concepts and patterns of meaning that were repeated across interviews. of North Carolina
Coding was employed as part of the analysis process to lead to themes or ideas State Organization.
(Richards, 2015). Coding in qualitative inquiry, most often “a word or short phrase broughtonp@ecu.edu;
pbrought123@gmail.com
that symbolically assigns a summative attribute for a portion of language-based data”
(Saldaña, 2016, p. 4), proved to be an effective means to bring clarity to these multiple
interview responses. Coding involved
examining each interview, finding relevant
thoughts and comments, and noting key The purpose of this study grew from
words or short phrases. These comments,
thoughts, and key words and phrases were a need to understand the perceived
then clustered into themes. Researchers
next began the process of conceptualizing challenges that face presidents
and explaining the themes. The following
discussion shows the resulting code phrases of civic organizations and social
or words, grouped into themes by the groups as they move into the next
researchers, with the number of instances
of use of each applied to the overall theme. generation of leadership.

Code Groupings and Resulting
Themes Identified
Four different themes emerged from analysis of data from each interview related
to the challenges and successes of each presidency. In order of precedence, these
themes were “service,” “feeling,” “growth,” and “engagement.” Two additional
words— “geography” and “small”— emerged as significant due to the context of
their use throughout the interviews. These words did not fit clearly into the four
themes but have important connotations for the study and so will be included
separately.

Educators’ Choice 39