Leadership and Management in the Social Work Profession and Organizations

Assignment Brief

SOWK 611 - Leadership and Management in the Social Work Profession and Organizations: Theory and Application

The Leadership Discovery assignment serves two key purposes. First, students will have the opportunity to thoroughly complete a leadership self-assessment exercise. This initial assess can help guide the further development of your leadership skills and behaviors. Second, Assignment 1 will identify strengths you have, attributes you wish to augment and improve, and potential weaknesses to eliminate. An array of inputs will inform the plan, including results from the various leadership assessments and surveys you take and the views you obtained from others in the 360-Degree feedback process.

The Building Blocks: Your Strengths, Skills and Abilities

1. What strengths identified were by the Strength Based Leadership (SBL) assessment? Include a short description of each of the five strengths (the download from the Gallup site that provides brief descriptions of each theme can be useful here) and examine how the strength manifests in your work/life.
2. What strengths were revealed from other sources of information, such as the strength bombardment (success story feedback) conducted in class, the emotional intelligence assessment, and any other assessments you may have taken in this class as well as other classes or different settings?
3. What strengths were identified by others in conducting your 360-Degree feedback? For example, the emotional intelligence assessment includes a questionnaire to give to others to rate you, or perhaps you asked a coworker to give you feedback about the accuracy of the strength-based leadership results and so forth. Please identify the individuals giving you the feedback; you do not need to use their names—simply state: fellow student, friend, fieldwork supervisor and so forth (diverse, multiple sources of feedback should be utilized).
4. What strengths do you believe you have that were not revealed through any of the assessments or the 360-Degree feedback? Please briefly discuss why you think your unidentified strengths were not represented through these assessments and feedback endeavors.
5. Which of the strengths identified in a, b, and c (above) do you believe are not accurate or are questionable?
6. What strengths do you believe you currently do not have, or believe are not strong, but would like to develop (the identification can be based on the SBL text as well as your own labels of strengths not identified in SBL)?

Sample Answer

Leadership Discovery: Self-Assessment and Reflection

Introduction

Effective leadership in the social work profession requires a deep understanding of personal strengths, skills, and areas for development. The purpose of this assignment is to reflect on my leadership capabilities using multiple assessment tools, including the Strength Based Leadership (SBL) assessment, emotional intelligence (EI) surveys, class-based strength bombardment exercises, and 360-Degree feedback. This reflection will identify my key strengths, explore attributes to enhance, and recognise areas for development to guide my ongoing professional growth.

Strengths Identified Through SBL Assessment

The Strength Based Leadership assessment highlighted five primary strengths that shape my approach to leadership and decision-making:

1. Strategic Thinking: This strength allows me to anticipate potential outcomes and make informed decisions. In practice, it manifests through careful planning of social work interventions and considering both short-term and long-term impacts on clients.

2. Relational Intelligence: I am naturally adept at understanding and managing interpersonal relationships, which enhances collaboration with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.

3. Adaptability: I can adjust my approach in response to changing circumstances, ensuring that client needs are met even in dynamic or unpredictable environments.

4. Empathy: I demonstrate strong sensitivity to the emotions and perspectives of others, which facilitates trust-building and effective support in social work contexts.

5. Accountability: I take responsibility for decisions and actions, promoting reliability and consistency in professional practice.

These strengths are consistently reflected in both academic and practical settings, shaping how I engage with teams, clients, and organisational tasks.

Strengths Identified Through Other Assessments

Additional tools, such as the emotional intelligence assessment and class-based strength bombardment exercises, revealed complementary strengths. The EI assessment confirmed my capacity for self-awareness and emotional regulation, critical for leadership in emotionally demanding environments. Strength bombardment exercises, including feedback from peers and instructors, highlighted my problem-solving skills, creativity in addressing client challenges, and ability to motivate and encourage team members. These assessments provide an external validation of my interpersonal and cognitive capabilities.

Continued...