This paper explored two issues as follows: the influence school leaders have on school performances and factors that hinder school leaders' efforts to achieve school success in Botswana secondary and primary schools. The subjects of the study were 199 teachers and 21 members of the senior management team in primary and secondary schools in Botswana. The participants were to analyse, through semi-structured interviews and a closed-ended questionnaire, the leadership patterns of their leaders and the barriers to effective leadership in schools. The findings revealed that, generally, leaders in Botswana schools practise democratic leadership although not without barriers. Chief among the barriers are the imposition of policies through numerous directives from the Ministry of Education and drug abuse by students supplied by some adults in society. The study ends with a conclusion that draws from the discussion of the findings and relevant studies to the subject being discussed.