Today, one can find an endless amount of books on leadership and management lining up in the bookstore and library shelves. These manuals are focused on the corporate world and placed in the ‘business’ section, which speaks for itself. Sadly, the association of leadership with the corporate world has made people forget what a leader is all about.
A compelling theme that distinguishes leadership success is a leader’s ability to adapt, understand, communicate, and motivate his people. Nowadays, the crux of leadership books’ teaches you about teamwork and communications only.
However, some of the fundamental traits are respect, active listening, appreciation, integrity, perseverance, and advocacy. While most people would be quick to identify these business owners’ skills, very little would believe that social workers possess all these qualities. Contrary to popular belief, social workers working in multiple fields are knowledgeable about all the ways that surprisingly apply to all the aspects of organizational leadership.
So, it is foolish to say that a social worker cannot make an effective organizational leader. Let’s see some of the most inspiring reasons why social workers make terrific leaders in all spheres of life.
1 – Understanding the Organization
According to the organization’s objectives, the very foundation of social work is to align the operations at core levels. Organizational leadership also focuses on the same principle. A leader who fails to focus adequately on the organization’s goals and runs after short-term profitability is bound to take the organization downhill.
If you want to create a change within a system, it is essential to dig deep into its roots and learn how it works. Furthermore, acquiring institutional knowledge, such as CSWE accredited online MSW programs, and understanding organizational resources are essential. Besides being a social worker, it is also crucial to possess interpersonal skills, such as flexibility and diplomacy, to work with diverse teams.
2 – Facilitating Communication
To make an efficient social leader, you must be able to communicate what you aim for. According to leadership gurus worldwide, an effective leader is not the one who can get people to respond to his command but the one who can convey his authority seamlessly.
It is an area where social workers must train themselves to perfection. Constant communication and working with diverse teams are necessary for their job. It implies further that communication is essential in becoming an excellent social worker and an effective leader.
Also, a fundamental tenet of social work is exemplary with not only words but also actions. It is a trait associated with good leaders because one’s attitude towards his teams, audience, and organizational objectives are imperative to his success.
3 – Championing Change
Once you have a good hold on the traits of how an organization works, the next is to work on improving its operations. Eliminating traces of social evil and discrimination is principal in social work. Due to their dedication to social justice, social workers can fulfill one of the most substantial duties of a leader; addressing the organization’s unmet needs. The leadership in social workers begins when they meet the requirements of the staff working under them.
The ability to take the initiative distinguishes a leader from a commoner, and this is a characteristic that all social workers possess. Another important quality that an efficient social worker and a leader share is the skill to boost their employees’ morale to empower them.
A person who can be involved creatively and enthusiastically with the stakeholders and the individuals working under his command makes him a leader. An ordinary individual takes years to acquire these traits – whereas, social workers are trained to exhibit innate passion and skills, regardless of the situation.
4 – Risk Management Qualities
Effective risk management requires every key stakeholder to fill the communication vacuum to survive a leadership lapse. A skilled social worker knows what role to appoint key to the organization’s participantsto identify the possible sources of risks.
However, this does not abort the responsibilities of a team, which will always remain crucial. Thus, without the risk management skills of social workers, it is almost impossible to eliminate the threats that could obstruct an organization from achieving its goals. A social worker knows how to save the environment from running amok and unbridled in its operations, making him a solid leader in every realm.
Conclusion
In modern times, a person who can interpret a balance sheet, negotiate on employees’ health insurance contracts, and prepare a budget fits the definition of a perfect leader. These are merely managerial skills that do not define leadership but corporate autocracy. True leadership demands compassion, empathy, advocacy, passion for mission, and buildingrelationships with stakeholders and the team through consensus building.
A credible leader possesses more than just managerial skills. They embody values and ethics, which are common in social workers. Social workers must focus on improving the ways that would automatically lead to the improvisation of the systems.