Abstract. This paper examines leadership as a decisive factor influencing the efficiency of educational process management. In modern educational institutions, traditional administrative approaches no longer suffice. The growing complexity of curricula, diverse student needs, rapid technological changes, and high societal expectations demand a new quality of leadership. Effective educational leaders do not merely allocate resources or enforce rules; they inspire teachers, engage students, create collaborative cultures, and drive continuous improvement. The study analyses key leadership styles transformational, transactional, distributed, and instructional and evaluates their impact on learning outcomes, teacher motivation, and institutional performance. Drawing on case studies from higher education and school contexts, the paper demonstrates that leadership accounts for a significant portion of variance in student achievement and organisational effectiveness.