Week 3:Leadership Styles and Organizational Cultures, Have you ever walked into a business or organization and sensed that something just did not feel right? Perhaps you were not able to identify exactly what was wrong, but you knew something positive was missing. Conversely, have you ever entered a business or organization where you could feel an upbeat positive atmosphere? What causes this positive force that is so appealing and affirmative? Social work administrators have the ability to influence the culture of a human services organization and to set the tone for how staff, clients, and other community stakeholders are treated once they enter or interact with the organization.

Students will:

• Analyze interactions between personal leadership and organizational culture
• Analyze influence of organization’s leadership philosophy on treatment of clients
• Analyze personal leadership experience and skills
• Analyze leaders
• Evaluate personal leadership style

Week 3:Leadership Styles and Organizational Cultures

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Northouse, P. G. (2021). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.

• Chapter 6, “Engaging Strengths” (pp. 127-158)
• Chapter 3, “Understanding Leadership and Styles” (pp. 57–77)
• Chapter 4, “Attending to Tasks and Relationships” (pp. 79-99)

Required Media

Kayal, R. (Producer). (2010). Raymond Kayal, Ph.D. in management [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

 

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.

Accessible player –Downloads–Download Video w/CCDownload AudioDownload Transcript

Optional Resources

Walden University. (2014). Master of Social Work home page. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Visit the Master of Social Work interactive home page to explore resources available to students in the program.

Week 3:Leadership Styles and Organizational Cultures

Discussion 1: Organizational Culture and Client Treatment

After reading the assigned resources about leadership types and skills, as well as information about attending to tasks and relationships, you may be starting to develop ideas about how an administrator’s leadership style and philosophy can either facilitate or limit social change efforts. The way in which social work administrators interact with diverse stakeholders such as clients, staff, board members, and community members, contributes to a model of service delivery that emphasizes quality and effectiveness.

By Day 3

Post how a social work administrator’s personal leadership philosophy and style may influence a human services organization’s culture. Also, explain how the organization’s culture might influence a social work administrator’s personal leadership style. Finally, explain how interactions with stakeholders may ultimately impact the organization’s treatment of clients. Be sure to provide specific examples in your explanations.

Support your post with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

By Day 5

Read a selection of your colleagues’ posts.

Respond to at least two colleagues by addressing an example in each colleague’s post in at least one of the following ways:

• Suggest a strategy for addressing a situation that your colleague described in one of his or her examples.
• Offer additional thoughts regarding the impact of the interaction described in the example.

Return to this Discussion to read the responses to your initial post. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 3 Discussion 1 Rubric

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 5

To participate in this Discussion:

Week 3 Discussion 1

Week 3:Leadership Styles and Organizational Cultures

Discussion 2: Leadership and You (Video)

Understanding how to respond and lead appropriately in situations that affect an organization can be challenging. There is no “one size fits all” solution to the challenges of social work practice. In addition, not all leaders are alike. Individuals’ personalities, previous experiences, skills, and knowledge influence their leadership styles.

In order for you to determine the best strategy for leading a group in a specific situation, you need to not only assess the situation, but also consider how your leadership style can influence the desired outcome.

For this Discussion, you create and upload a video in which you introduce yourself and discuss your leadership role and your personal leadership style. Think of your introduction as your first step in defining your leadership style as you prepare for your leadership assessment in the Final Project due in Week 10.

By Day 4

Post a 2- to 3-minute introductory video. Complete the following in your video:

• Introduce yourself.
• Explain your previous leadership experience and skills (both personally and professionally).
• Describe an individual who might serve as an inspiration for you in a future leadership role. Explain how this example might influence you.
• Evaluate what style of leadership seems to be a good fit for you as you prepare for a leadership role in social work, and why.

Upload your video using the Mashup Tool in the Discussion Board. See the Kaltura Media Uploader area in the course navigation menu, and review the Student Guide for Integrating Media in the Classroom for more information on using the Mashup Tool.

Be sure to also upload a transcript of your video.

By Day 6

View a selection of your colleagues’ videos.

Respond with a thoughtful question or comment to at least two colleagues.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 3 Discussion 2 Rubric

Post by Day 4 and Respond by Day 6

To participate in this Discussion:

Week 3 Discussion 2

Week 3:Leadership Styles and Organizational Cultures

Week in Review

This week you analyzed the interactions between personal leadership and organizational culture and the influence of leadership philosophy on the treatment of clients. In addition, you analyzed your own personal leadership experience, skills and style.

Next week you will focus on what it means to be culturally competent and how different perspectives present learning opportunities and may become sources of conflict as well.

To go to the next week:

Week 4