Abstract: This study is aimed to reveal the Minangkabau people’s point of view on leadership style of high school principals. The findings of the study state that leadership style situation overally does not affect effective schools while the implementation of school-based management gives effect to effective schools. Partially, there are two elements of situational leadership which affect effective schools; guidance and support style. Meanwhile, the implementation of school-based management is based on three elements; participatory decision-making, the involvement of parents and the insistence that affect the school staff effectively. The study also found that there are no significant differences between situational leadership and the implementation of school-based management refering to experiences and training factors. The study implications show thathigh school principals in West Sumatra in implementing their leadership style are not only based on the situation but also based on management functions and Minangkabau culture that upholds democratic values.