Antecedents of leadership efficacy development among novice school principals in Malaysia

What motivates leaders to feel confident in their ability to lead is a relatively unexplored theme, particularly during their induction, which lasts for one to five years after their appointment. This study qualitatively examines the antecedents of leadership efficacy development among Malaysian novice school principals. The data were obtained using a phenomenological design. Twenty-one such principals participated in this study. The phenomenological interview model developed by Bevan was adapted for data collection. The findings revealed three main domains of antecedents that influence leadership efficacy, namely self-reference, internal support, and external support. Each domain comprises several antecedents derived from empirical data and analyses using sources of leadership efficacy, as discussed in previous studies. This study also puts forth recommendations for enhancing the leadership efficacy of novice school principals.