Navigating the ‘Prospective Principal Phase’ in Sweden: Forming an Ambivalent Voice of Leadership Ambition

Stina Jerdborg

doi:10.30828/real.1955644

Navigating the ‘Prospective Principal Phase’ in Sweden: Forming an Ambivalent Voice of Leadership Ambition

Abstract

Personal motivation and readiness, professional and organisational factors, and the ability to navigate a landscape of limitations and possibilities are important for prospective principals. This study explores how individuals navigate the ‘prospective principal phase’ and orient themselves towards principalship while participating in pre-service preparation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 prospective principals in Sweden. The findings show that their navigation occurs in three stages, as they modify their role understanding through professional socialisation and form a leadership voice through personal socialisation. However, this voice shows signs of ambivalence as they engage with how to navigate the educational organisational landscape. Being institutionalised as outsiders in this landscape, they search for cracks in the boundaries of principalship through which to slip. Socialising only with other outsiders in the prospective principal phase was found to reinforce their outsider position rather than support the development of a school leader identity.

Keywords

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Leadership in Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Stina Jerdborg ^*
0000-0002-7223-2711
Sweden

Publication Date

September 27, 2026

Submission Date

May 20, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 6, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1955644

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA96CK37EJ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Jerdborg, S. (2026). Navigating the ‘Prospective Principal Phase’ in Sweden: Forming an Ambivalent Voice of Leadership Ambition. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, 11(3), 697-741. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1955644

AMA

1.Jerdborg S. Navigating the ‘Prospective Principal Phase’ in Sweden: Forming an Ambivalent Voice of Leadership Ambition. REAL. 2026;11(3):697-741. doi:10.30828/real.1955644

Chicago

Jerdborg, Stina. 2026. “Navigating the ‘Prospective Principal Phase’ in Sweden: Forming an Ambivalent Voice of Leadership Ambition”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11 (3): 697-741. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1955644.

EndNote

Jerdborg S (September 1, 2026) Navigating the ‘Prospective Principal Phase’ in Sweden: Forming an Ambivalent Voice of Leadership Ambition. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11 3 697–741.

IEEE

[1]S. Jerdborg, “Navigating the ‘Prospective Principal Phase’ in Sweden: Forming an Ambivalent Voice of Leadership Ambition”, REAL, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 697–741, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.30828/real.1955644.

ISNAD

Jerdborg, Stina. “Navigating the ‘Prospective Principal Phase’ in Sweden: Forming an Ambivalent Voice of Leadership Ambition”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11/3 (September 1, 2026): 697-741. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1955644.

JAMA

1.Jerdborg S. Navigating the ‘Prospective Principal Phase’ in Sweden: Forming an Ambivalent Voice of Leadership Ambition. REAL. 2026;11:697–741.

MLA

Jerdborg, Stina. “Navigating the ‘Prospective Principal Phase’ in Sweden: Forming an Ambivalent Voice of Leadership Ambition”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, vol. 11, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 697-41, doi:10.30828/real.1955644.

Vancouver

1.Stina Jerdborg. Navigating the ‘Prospective Principal Phase’ in Sweden: Forming an Ambivalent Voice of Leadership Ambition. REAL. 2026 Sep. 1;11(3):697-741. doi:10.30828/real.1955644