My Personal Leadership Anthology: Relationship Building and Self-Awareness

As an advocate in the behavioral health field, it is imperative that those who are appointed to work with these clients and their families in need believe in the power of healing in community, and find purpose through offering supportive services to build a strong foundation for the overall mental and physical health of these individuals.

When I think about the phrase “healing in community” I get a sense of relief. This is where the work is being done and the relationship to this mission affects both internal and external stakeholders. Through a leadership perspective, the relationships developed with each person I interact with provides insight that helps me to understand their desire to choose this journey and provide resources in support of those objectives.

Self-awareness

I believe those who hold a position of influence in this field value the why behind the efforts being asked of them and the importance of continuing to recirculate and promote a healthy, and inspirational culture; after all this field is service-oriented.

Second, I believe ethical and honest influence tactics are essential traits and behaviors of leadership which will help promote positive morale within an organization. To encourage others to seek treatment within or join forces to support those in need, there needs to be trust, respect, and authenticity felt from all. The pillars of self-leadership (self-discovery, self-acceptance, self-management, and self-growth)guide each team member toward self-awareness and use the lessons learned to promote individual growth. It is essential that each leader and team member acknowledge the importance and concept of whole person health which serves as a bedrock to support individual and organizational goal-setting, and the subsequent achievements.

Leadership

Leadership shall be aligned with the guiding principles/values of the organization which is to authentically empower staff and engage in meaningful work. This is the vision and culture I seem to resonate with the most and in observation, I think most people do as well. In my personal experience, this model has affirmatively supported many organizations and will positively impact the way these organizations hire and what roles are developed because of these objectives.

As a leader, exercising emotional intelligence and providing on-going education and continued skill development for the teams is a large part of the ethical standards and social responsibility within this work to which the leadership teams can influence both positively and negatively.

Understanding each team member as well as personal emotions and using what is learned to motivate is an important aspect when building up others and reinforcing self-care. Being aware of the impact emotional intelligence has on decision-making is vital to the growth and development of the organization and each member supporting the vision.

When done properly, corporate social responsibility, consumer brand trust, ethical sustainability and strategic efforts will compliment one another in support of those who are seeking treatment as well as those who dedicate their lives to this work. In addition, I believe the organizations which follow these standards will continue to provide significant improvement for affordable healthcare, access to mental health services and continued skill development for all.

To empower others to lead through excellence and utilize stewardship as a cornerstone, to engage others in and outside of the organization, and taking necessary time for personal reflection is a foundational aspect of servant-leadership, learning from one another, and providing excellent service.