Journal Assignment: Supervising Others
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Journal Assignment: Supervising Others
The work of a supervisor can be challenging, especially if the individual is a first-time manager. The role requires a person to possess a particular set of leadership skills and styles to facilitate effective management. Two leadership styles credited with facilitating quality supervision include democratic and servant leadership. Democratic leadership emphasizes the participation of group members in the decision-making process (Pares et al., 2017). The leadership style accords subordinates with sufficient autonomy for task completion, which motivates dedication to delivering high-quality work. On the other hand, the servant leader believes in serving the greater good (Pares et al., 2017). Group members under a servant leader are more likely to perceive that they are recognized, respected, and appreciated.
The supervisor in the Petrakis video highlights several supervisory and leadership attributes that impact the quality of his management. Foremost, the supervisor illustrates coaching leadership. Through frequent feedback, the supervisor educates Cindy on the perils of offering clients advice instead of letting them make the decisions. The leader does not focus on criticizing Cindy for her mistake and instead opts to build her long-term potential. There is also the portrayal of transformational leadership. The supervisor provides the client with sufficient information and options on what to do to facilitate positive behavioural changes. The leadership approach is future-focused and uses information to empower patients to step out of their comfort zones.
While the supervisor demonstrated suitable supervision, the leadership quality was moderate. The Petrakis video shows that the supervisor was not attentive or sympathetic to Cindy and the client’s emotions and reactions. Empathy and active listening are critical components of competence in supervision conduct (National Association of Social Workers, 2013). Paying more attention to the social worker would make them more comfortable and confident working with the patient. Despite this error, the supervisor’s leadership style was effective enough to address the critical issue. The positive case outcome attests to the above-average quality of supervision.
References
National Association of Social Workers. (2013). Best practice standards in social work supervision. Association of Social Work Boards.
Pares, M., Ospina, S. M. & Subirats, J. (2017). Social innovation and democratic leadership: Communities and social change from below. Edward Elgar Publishing.