Case Study: supervisor’s role
Case Study: supervisor’s role
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Case Study: supervisor’s role An analysis of the supervisor’s role in the Phoenix House case studies and identify leadership skills that might help the supervisor resolve the issue.
This is a very touching story Daniel has been placed in a program that appears to do more harm than good. His mother Lisa doesn’t understand that in order to be in a program like Phoenix House the student must be on the point of throwing out or on long-term suspension from their school, usually due to disciplinary issues. A good supervisor must be able to lead as well as listened to the ones she supervises in order to get an in-depth of any issues that may arise with the students.
As the supervisor, I believe she must have good leadership skill and management as well. In her leadership role, she can lead as well as learn from her followers (Northouse, 2013). She did the appropriate thing by respecting her followers (Social workers and interns). Leadership comprises of attention to mutual goals. Leaders direct their energies toward individuals who are trying to achieve something together (Northouse, 2013).
In this case, the supervisor and her followers are working together to make changes for Daniel and to get his mother to understand that his placement at Phoenix House is not a good fit for him. Rost, 1991, believes that it also increases the possibility that leaders and followers wiJI work together toward a common good. When consideration is given to common goals this gives leadership an ethical implication because it stresses the need for leaders to work with followers to achieve particular goals.
Identify which aspect of this situation would be most challenging for you if you were the supervisor.
The part of this situation that would be more challenging for me is to get Daniel’s mother to understand why the program is going to do more harm to Daniel than good because it appears she really believes that where he belongs. Whenever an individual is so strong in their belief it is harder to bring something across to them. The hardest part is that his mother (Lisa), does not understand the nature of the program.
Finally, explain how you would use leadership skills to proceed if you were the supervisor.
I would use leadership and power to influence Lisa. People have power when they have the ability to affect others’ beliefs, attitudes, and courses of action (Northouse, 2013). By doing this, I would be using the resource of power to effect change in others. As the supervisor, I believe that I possess the two power that most organization have which is position power and personal power. My personal power is the ability I have to make an impact on people. Position power is the role that I have in the company as a supervisor combining these two I am bound to make an impact on Lisa.
Northouse, P., G., (2013), Leadership. Theory and Practice (6th. Ed). Los Angeles. Sage Publications
Chapter 1 “Introduction” (PP. 1 -17)
Northouse, P. G. (2018). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice (4th Ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.
o Chapter 1, “Understanding Leadership” (pp. 1–18)
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing [Vital Source e-reader].
“Social Work Supervision, Leadership, and Administration: The Phoenix House” (pp. 82–84)
