Mental health rehabilitation utilizes authentic leadership in various careers, especially peer support services. Peer support services are intended for those undergoing mental health and/or substance abuse recovery, and they provide those in recovery with a mentor that has had similar experiences. A peer support specialist works directly with the impacted individual, and they formulate goals, offer mentorship, implement recovery empowerment, and serve as an advocate for not only their clients, but the entire affected population (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2022). The peer support mission, and core competencies that define the function of peer support services, can be explained and achieved through the attributes within the practical approach of authentic leadership, such as, purpose, values, relationships, self-discipline, and compassion (George, 2003; George & Sims, 2007, as cited in Northouse, 2021).

What exactly is the mission of peer support services? Peer support services strive to ensure that affected individuals, with mental health or substance abuse related disorders, do not relapse, but rather continue to grow through their recovery journey (Department of Health & Human Services, 2022). Similar to this mission, George (2003) claimed that “authentic leaders have a genuine desire to serve others, they know themselves, and they feel free to lead from their core values” (As cited in Northouse, 2021, p. 223). Authentic leadership focuses on values, service, growth, and genuineness, just as peer support services does. Peer support services introduces a leadership dynamic between client and peer support specialist, and it appears that peer support services utilizes authentic leadership principles to function and promote rehabilitation.

The practical approach of authentic leadership highlights leaders’ attributes (George, 2003; George & Sims, 2007, as cited in Northouse, 2021). The first attribute found in authentic leaders is purpose, where leaders can identify and understand their plan, often developing passion in the process (Northouse, 2021). Similarly, peer support specialists are recovery oriented, one of the core competencies, where the goal is to assist clients with reaching their full potential. Peer support specialists identify their purpose through their own recovery, and this leads to passionate work that empowers others who are faced with similar barriers (Department of Health & Human Services, 2022). Another attribute of authentic leaders is holding important values, where their actions translate and reflect such values (Northouse, 2021). Peer support specialists hold important values, because a core competency that they implement is person-centered thinking. Person-centered thinking is the belief that clients drive their own rehabilitation processes, where peer supports accompany them and offer insight to their recovery (Department of Health & Human Services, 2022). Moreover, a third attribute of authentic leadership is relationships, where leaders exhibit close ties with those around them, which allows them to gain strong rapport with followers (Northouse, 2021). A core competency of peer support services is being relationship-focused, where the client and peer support specialist are able to come together and formulate appropriate and effective rehabilitation practices (Department of Health & Human Services, 2022). Additionally, self-discipline is essential for authentic leaders, where leaders engage in motivated behaviors that lead to consistent leadership tendencies (Northouse, 2021). Similar to self-discipline practices, peer support specialists utilize trauma informed methods. Trauma informed methods promote the well-being of an individual in every aspect of their life in order to grow (Department of Health & Human Services, 2022). Finally, compassion is a key attribute of authentic leadership, where leaders can demonstrate responsiveness toward their followers, and this allows them to be vulnerable and assist their followers accordingly (Northouse, 2021). While there is not a specific core competency within peer support services that directly functions based on the compassion attribute, it is reasonable to believe that such compassion stems from the peers’ experience with similar struggles.

In summary, authentic leadership is essential within mental health rehabilitation. Through the practical approach to authentic leadership, one can understand the core competencies and primary mission of peer support services. Attributes, such as, purpose, values, relationships, self-discipline, and compassion are integrated into the frame work of peer support services, and thus authentic leaders are able to promote effective rehabilitation.

References

Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2022, February 23). Peers. SAMHSA. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://www.samhsa.gov/brss-tacs/recovery-support-tools/peers

In societies that function based on their members productivity, how do we end mass incarceration, mass probation, and justice system failures? The answer might be present in the roots and foundation of servant leadership. Servant leadership is one that focuses on the followers’ needs, interests, and well-being, while encouraging followers to reach their full potential (Northouse, 2021). One alternative to the United States’ current justice system is restorative justice, where the offender, the victim, and members of society heal as a collective group, and they work to ensure that the offender is able to reintegrate into society (Siegel & Worrall, 2018). The principles of restorative justice are similar to those of servant leadership, and according to Northouse (2021), servant leaders have the capability to create other servant leaders out of their followers. This analysis explores the idea of restorative justice producing servant leaders out of offenders, victims, and communities, based on the similarities between servant leadership principles and the restorative justice process. Restorative justice can be understand through the principles found in the servant leadership model, which includes antecedent conditions, servant leader behaviors, and outcomes (Liden, Wayne, et al., 2008; Liden, Panaccio, et al., 2014, as cited in Northouse, 2021).

The antecedent conditions presented in the servant leadership model can provide a basic understanding of how restorative justice imposes servant leadership principles. Restorative justice is an alternative to incarceration, therefore the conditions in which it operates makes the context an important factor to consider. For instance, restorative justice strives to provide healing effects for all parties involved in particular criminal situations, therefore setting a more caring tone than incarceration (Siegel & Worrall, 2018). The servant leadership model highlights the importance of what servant leadership looks like in different contexts (Northouse, 2021). In the instance of restorative justice, it is a more caring environment than incarceration, therefore servant leadership is more apparent and recognizable than in less caring environments. Similar to this idea, the characteristics of a leader impacts the process at which servant leadership functions (Northouse, 2021). Restorative justice illustrates a more holistic approach to rehabilitation, therefore making the attributes of the system itself more focused on the needs of the victims, communities, and offenders (Siegel & Worrall, 2018). This is similar to the focus on followers within the servant leadership model (Northouse, 2021).

The servant leader behaviors presented in the servant leadership model can provide additional instances of how restorative justice imposes servant leadership principles. Restorative justice conceptualizes rehabilitation, an important behavior of servant leadership (Northouse, 2021). Restorative justice accomplishes conceptualization of rehabilitation, because it devalues the current justice system that places offenders into incarceration, which decreases any chance of integrating them back into society and the respectful community. Instead, restorative justice works with offenders to reintegrate them back into society, displaying a creative and balanced solution that addresses criminal acts and accountability (Siegel & Worrall, 2018). Due to the accountability that restorative justice places on offenders, emotional healing presents itself as an embedded principle of the restorative justice process. For instance, restorative justice requires an offender to take responsibility for their actions in front of the community and the victim(s), therefore establishing concern for others, an important component of emotional healing (Northouse, 2021). Another important characteristic of servant leadership is placing others first (Northouse, 2021), which is present in restorative justice, as victims are the main priority during this process (Siegel & Worrall, 2018). Similarly, helping followers grow and succeed is an important behavior within servant leadership, where individuals are pushed to their fullest capacity (Northouse, 2021). Restorative justice provides this for offenders, victims, and community members, because it encourages all three of these groups to move past the criminal act in order to grow and succeed (Siegel & Worrall, 2018). Ethics, another component of servant leadership behavior, calls for honesty and rightful actions (Northouse, 2021). Restorative justice is ethical, because it still emphasizes the severity and implications of the offender’s actions, suggesting that there are clear actions and behaviors that are deemed wrong and inappropriate (Siegel & Worrall, 2018). According to Northouse (2021), empowering others is an additional key factor of servant leadership behavior. Restorative justice empowers communities, offenders, and victims by encouraging effective communication, ultimately aiming for healing among all parties. This places power into the hands of those that are directly impacted by crime, where a mutually agreed upon understanding can be reached without the input of outside sources (Siegel & Worrall, 2018). Finally, creating value for the community is another key characteristic of servant leadership (Northouse, 2021). Restorative justice aims to achieve community value by reintegrating offenders back into society in order to positively benefit the community as a whole (Siegel & Worrall, 2018).

Restorative justice produces effects that can be related to servant leadership outcomes. For instance, follower performance and growth (Northouse, 2021) is achieved through restorative justice by giving the victim, community, and offender a chance to grow from the experiences that they have been exposed to (Siegel & Worrall, 2018). Arguably, this process can also lead to organizational performance, as Northouse (2021) identified that such performance increases with servant leadership applications. Restorative justice is an alternative to an arguably failing justice system (Siegel & Worrall, 2018), therefore, it has the potential to provide increased organizational performance among combatting crime. Finally, while restorative justice is not the primary justice technique used today (Siegel & Worrall, 2018), it is a promising approach that could create societal change. Societal change, as outlined by Northouse (2021), encompasses a positive shift in a society as a whole. Restorative justice is a potential alternative to mass incarceration, mass probation, and justice system failures.

In relation to the servant leadership model, restorative justice encompasses antecedent conditions, servant leader behaviors, and effective outcomes. Notably, Northouse (2021) illustrated that servant leaders are likely to produce additional servant leaders out of their followers. Due to the servant leadership approach used in restorative justice, it is interesting to consider that this process can potentially produce other servant leaders out of criminal offenders, community members, and victims.

 

References

Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and Practice. 9th Edition. Los Angeles: Sage Publications

Siegel, L. J., & Worrall, J. L. (2018). Essentials of Criminal Justice (11th Edition). Cengage Learning US. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781337670821

Can power and influence explain the function of activism? Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines activism as “a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue.” Activism gathers individuals with similar beliefs, and those individuals work together towards a common goal. However, it is through the strategic use of power and influence that activism can create change and remain an effective dynamic.

Understanding Power, Influence, and Activism

Power is the ability to cause change, and influence is the effect of such change (PSU WC, 2016, L. 7). These principles are already naturally ingrained into the practice of activism, as an activist group has to have the ability to cause change, and typically the mutual goal is to implement such changes into society. For instance, power was established for Black Lives Matter when Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi founded the movement. In this instance, influence can be found in the expansion of Black Lives Matter throughout the United States, where community empowerment and networks are being created and maintained (Black Lives Matter, n.d.).

The Rise of Activism

What is the source of influence for activism groups? According to the PSU WC lesson commentary (2016), the need for power or motivation to manage has been linked to the reason for leaders’ actions. If we consider an activist group as a leadership figure that inhibits power to create change, then these motives can further illustrate the source of influence for activism groups. The need for power motive can be conceptualized into two different forms, personalized power and socialized power. If an activist group is influential through personalized power, then they are inhibiting their power for internal and selfish reasons. However, if an activist group is influential through socialized power, then they are engaging in the activism selflessly and to benefit the goal of the movement (PSU WC, 2016, L. 7).

How Activism Influences

According to the PSU WC lesson commentary (2016), influential behaviors are most effective when they are positive in nature, rather than destructive and harmful. There are six concepts that produce influential behaviors among society, such as: Reciprocity, commitment and consistency, social proof, authority, liking, and scarcity (Cialdini, 2006; 2008 as cited in PSU WC, 2016, L. 7). If an activist engaged in reciprocity, then they would influence a group of individuals by gifting them something in hopes of receiving something in return. If an activist engaged in commitment and consistency, then they may influence others by getting them to sign petitions, sign up for email updates, verbally agree to attend a meeting, etc. An activist can also indirectly become influential through social proofing, where one follows another or a group based on their desire to blend with the crowd. Moreover, authority can influence a group or individual to behave and act in such ways that are directly invoked upon them. However, this can also be achieved if there is a sense of liking within the relationship, and others feel moved to act based on their admiration of an individual or group. Finally, the presence of scarcity may have an impact on activism and obtaining influenced followers, because the lack of change within any given societal issue may influence group participation (PSU WC, 2016, L. 7).

Activism is an important and imperative function within society. Understanding the ways in which it operates is crucial in its formation and continuation. Through the presence of power, the implementation of influential tactics, and the observation of influential behaviors, activism is able to function through leadership and followership.

 

 

References

Black Lives Matter. (n.d.). Herstory. Retrieved from https://blacklivesmatter.com/herstory/

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Activism. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved from   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/activism

Pennsylvania State University World Campus (2016). PSYCH 281 Lesson 7: Power and Influence. Retrieved from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2177519/modules/items/33991727

 

 

If someone asked you, “how do you navigate mental health rehabilitation,” what would you say? Working in the mental health field quickly instills the notion that one must adapt to each situation, respectively, while providing effective services to those who have mental illnesses. To combat the difficulty of mental illness and it’s debilitating nature, community residential rehabilitation programs, or CRRs, are incorporated into society to foster growth and skills that are necessary for daily functioning. Community residential rehabilitation programs are temporary programs that provide housing, treatment plans, and facilitate daily living skills to transition individuals with a mental illness back into independent living (Allied Services Integrated Health System, 2020). Moreover, these types of programs require mental health professionals to provide leadership over the consumers that participate in the rehabilitation program. With the complexity of follower characteristics that consumers display, and the wide range of tasks that they are expected to complete, different leadership styles are necessary to accomplish the common goal of rehabilitation and transition. The path-goal theory in leadership research suggests that shifting leadership styles to the demands of followers’ needs will increase overall performance (Northouse, 2016). The path-goal theory is commonly applied to mental health services, like community residential rehabilitation programs, and it is through this practice that followers are able to navigate tasks in order to reach a common goal.

 

Northouse (2016) suggested that the leadership style used depends on outlined objectives and follower attributes. In CRR programs, there are individuals from all walks of life, with different stories, and different diagnoses. How a leader assists one consumer might be different from how they assist another. Path-goal theory suggests that there are four leadership styles that promote followers’ performance and facilitate their needs. These four leadership styles are directive, supportive, participative, and achievement-oriented (Northouse, 2016). It is with these four leadership styles that rehabilitation support staff are able to help these different individuals achieve their goals to promote independent living skills and mental health well-being.

 

Directive leadership is used in CRR programs when consumers are in need of guidance through difficult situations. Northouse (2016) illustrated that followers who need structure, and who depend on outside factors to determine their situations, benefit from directive leadership, which tackles tasks that are obscure and perplexing. For instance, in my time of working at a CRR program, I have been faced with several consumers who struggle to navigate through independent living skills due to being in and out of psychiatric facilities their whole lives. These consumers, who have been dependent on structure and external interventions, benefit from directive leadership. For instance, a consumer in this situation may be faced with the goal of self-transporting themselves to the pharmacy to obtain their medication. However, how are they to do so without a license or a personal vehicle? This is where directive leadership comes into effect, and the CRR support staff establishes specific and clear objectives to achieve the goal of self-transportation. The support staff may encourage the consumer to buy a bus pass, print off bus routes, and set dates and times for the consumer to complete these objectives.

 

Similarly, supportive leadership is used in CRR programs when consumers are in need of connection and encouragement through difficult situations. Northouse (2016) illustrated that followers who require connection, and who prosper from interactions with another, benefit from supportive leadership, which tackles tasks that are dull and recurrent. For instance, I have encountered consumers who struggle with implementing healthy coping mechanisms into their daily routines, because they have conformed to unhealthy coping mechanisms in the past. These consumers, who have struggled to implement repetitive coping mechanisms, benefit from supportive leadership. For example, a consumer in this situation may be dissatisfied with the recurrent nature of implementing healthy coping mechanisms when they are feeling anxious. Supportive leadership calls for the support staff to instill confidence in the consumer. In this situation, the support staff could share a personal narrative of when they felt anxious and utilized healthy coping mechanisms. Alternatively, the support staff could perform the coping mechanism with the consumer to demonstrate equality and similarity.

 

Moreover, participative leadership is used in CRR programs when consumers are in need of autonomy. Northouse (2016) suggested that followers who require a say in certain decisions, and who need a clear path, benefit from participative leadership, which tackles tasks that are disorderly and obscure. I have encountered consumers in a CRR program who struggle to follow required community participation, because they feel as if they are being forced to do so. In this situation, participative leadership is effective, because the support staff can utilize the consumer’s ideas and decisions into their suggestions. For example, if a consumer thinks that community gardening is interesting, then the support staff can include that in their treatment plan to satisfy community participation. Then the consumer would have a say in this decision.

 

Finally, achievement-oriented leadership is used in CRR programs when consumers are in need of outstanding outcomes. Northouse (2016) suggested that followers who desire prosperity, and who have intricate assumptions, benefit from achievement-oriented leadership, which tackles tasks that are complicated and difficult. I have worked with consumers that find it challenging to transition out of the CRR program. For example, if a consumer has reached optimal levels of functioning, then the support staff can encourage the consumer to look into alternative, independent housing. In this situation, the support staff could challenge the consumer to independently complete daily living tasks, coping mechanisms, and interactions with external supports for several weeks while they are still living at the CRR. In this situation, the consumer would have to demonstrate their growth and rehabilitation independently, proving to themselves that they are capable of independently supporting themselves.

 

Mental health rehabilitation looks different for each individual. Through effective, adaptive leadership, independent skills can be accomplished by followers. In fact, the path-goal theory provides followers with task-completion expectations and overall confidence in goal achieving processes (Northouse, 2016). For this reason, the path-goal theory can be both beneficial and innovative within the context of CRR programs that focus on mental health rehabilitation.

 

References

Allied Services Integrated Health System. (2020, June 29). Community residential rehabilitation in 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://www.allied-services.org/news/2020/june/community-residential-rehabilitation-in-2020/

Northouse, P.G. (2016). Leadership Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications

Does leadership stem beyond achieving a common goal? Transformational leadership might be the key to answering this question. Transformational leadership encourages certain beliefs and values to be passed on to followers (Northouse, 2016, pp. 15). Additionally, transformational leadership impacts emotionality, morality, beliefs, and goals, while pushing followers beyond their expected performance (PSU WC, 2016, L. 1). With the formation of transformational leadership, authentic leadership springs to life, where one is drawn to maintaining their own sense of self through their beliefs and morals (PSU WC, 2016, L. 1). Transformational leadership is impactful, thus when leaders are passionate about their values, followers are more likely to adapt to similar views and practices (Lanaj, Johnson, & Lee, 2016, pp. 239).

Transformational leaders are present in many areas of society, and one example that we can easily access through Netflix is the show Queer Eye. Harvey (2019) explained that the members of the reality television show strive to encourage self-care practices and love as essential values into the lives of the people that they help. Harvey (2019) stated “Although Queer Eye is a makeover show, the message of the series centers around the idea of finding commonality in the face of cultural, racial and religious barriers” (Harvey, 2019).

Netflix’s version of Queer Eye embodies the kind of transformational leadership that expands the idea of achieving a common goal into instilling common values, practices, and behaviors. Lanaj, Johnson, & Lee (2016) suggest that transformational leadership encourages followers to obtain similar qualities, thus followers are more likely to become similar leaders themselves (Lanaj, Johnson, & Lee, 2016). In terms of the values that Queer Eye attempts to pass to those that they help, it is possible that those people are becoming leaders themselves in passing on similar beliefs, practices, and values. Similarly, Lanaj, Johnson, & Lee (2016) explained that the emotions of followers often match those of their transformational leaders (Lanaj, Johnson, & Lee, 2016, pp. 239). With this in mind, we can gather that the values of self-care and love, and their importance, are felt by the people that the Queer Eye cast work with.

Transformational leadership not only encourages a common goal, but it influences followers to adapt their values, beliefs, and behaviors to those of their leaders. The reality television show, Queer Eye, exemplifies transformational leadership through the use of self-care and love values. In fact, it is reasonable to think that these values are effective and lasting, as Lanaj, Johnson, & Lee (2016) claim that transformational leadership encourages followers’ productivity more than alternative leadership styes (Lanaj, Johnson, & Lee, 2016, pp. 239).

References