Inclusive Leadership | DS Workforce Initiative

Leadership is about organizing people and processes toward accomplishing a goal. This is done through coaching, mentoring, and motivating others towards a vision, commitments, and goals. Effective leaders foster an inclusive and positive environment.

Leaders consistently act and think with personal integrity, as well as with concern for, and sensitivity to, the fundamental values and ethics of the people receiving support/families, the agency/organization/sector and the profession.

It includes the capacity for sound ethical judgement in a diverse and ethically complex environment, and in the face of ongoing pressures and constraints to continually promote excellence.

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Growth Levels

Emerging

Authentic leader

Is self aware of own leadership style and values
Shows awareness of, and commitment to fundamental values and goals for the profession
Provides clear direction
Encourages ideas and contributions from others
Is aware when mistakes are made and takes personal responsibility to correct them
Ensures consistency between words and actions
Genuinely cares about people, which is made abundantly clear in their leadership style
Uses a person-centered approach in the provision of services, and respects and facilitates self-determination, supports informed decision making
Demonstrates evidence of character traits such as honesty, transparency, fairness, and respect
Shows tact, sensitivity to personal/professional boundaries and to personal differences
Mission-driven and thinks long-term
Takes every opportunity to integrate an organization’s core values into all communication and action

Evolving

Participatory leader

Seeks full understanding of facts and interests of all concerned when confronted with ethical issues and dilemmas and reflects upon all options in search of optimum solutions (ethical judgement)
Seeks input of others and values differing views
Actively facilitates the resolution of conflict
Establishes group norms
Fosters belonging and promotes diversity in team makeup
Celebrates accomplishments
Is an effective coach by providing specific feedback
Models an understanding of the relevance of fundamental values and ethics of the profession to everyday work, and consistently attempts to apply them
Acts in support of an open and safe workplace atmosphere in which everyone feels encouraged to safely raise, discuss, and address ethical issues
Openly acknowledges own errors of judgement without being prompted by others

Leading

Inspirational leader

Effectively resources the team by identifying and accessing opportunities
Questions and challenges the discrepancies and practices that do not align with the professional ethics of the workplace
Recognizes employee potential
Coaches discussions and explores fundamental values of the profession as it relates to the role
Encourages others to consistently adhere to the values and holds people accountable to the mission and ethical practices
Pivots to accomplish goals in an evolving environment
Promotes ownership and responsibility at all levels
Develops high performing teams
Supports team members in learning from each other, being self-directed, and being responsible for their own assessment and learning
Addresses performance issues in a timely way by speaking with others openly and directly, and holding them accountable for taking action for improvement

Influencing

Transformational leader

Ambassador for valued social roles in the community and supports people to have meaningful roles in society
Acts in accord with values and ethics even when significant cost or risk is associated with doing so
Uses diplomacy when actively and intensely challenging directives that do not align with professional values and ethics
Recognizes and amplifies people who uphold person/family/agency values and acts ethically
Champions a vision and leads others to buy into their mission, goals, strategy, and priorities, creating the optimum climate for achievement
Role model for transformational change
Takes calculated risk to bring forth meaningful change
Combines clarity of purpose with personal conviction and a sense of determination to position self as a credible leader
Generates excitement, enthusiasm, and commitment in people by translating the vision, mission and values into terms that are relevant to the work being performed
Positions self as a charismatic leader
Takes action to reinforce the vision and ensure processes and practices are aligned accordingly (e.g., rewards behaviour aligned with the vision)
Creates an environment in which all systems and processes support high levels of performance and are used to motivate employees to achieve goals
Sponsors and reviews long-term learning needs, career paths, and succession plans for organizational leaders

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