Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Leadership Styles Autocratic: Leader controlled. Laissez-faire: Group led and controlled. Democratic: Leader and group controlled and led. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Leadership Tasks Maintain appropriate range of behaviors (e.g. prevent violence). Keeping the group on task. Establishing and enforcing group rules. Protecting group members. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Leadership Tasks Encouraging group participation. Keeping the group focused on goals. Utilizing counseling skills: Active listening, interpretation, modeling of behavior, facilitating problem solving, linking, assigning homework, and/or encouraging members to help each other. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Leadership Tasks Encouraging group participation. Keeping the group focused on goals. Utilizing counseling skills: Active listening, interpretation, modeling of behavior, facilitating problem solving, linking, assigning homework, and/or encouraging members to help each other. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Benefits of Co-Leadership Two leaders provide better ability to observe group members and check reactions. Two leaders also provides for division of labor (e.g. one leader can concentrate on content and the other leader can look at process variables). Co-leadership can give each group member more individual attention. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Benefits of Co-Leadership Two leaders can model communication and conflict resolution. Two leaders provide diversity in theoretical orientation, interpersonal style, and cultural resources. Two leaders provide more expertise. Two leaders provide different perspectives. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Limitations of Co-Leadership It is often not economically feasible to have two group leaders. Co-leaders do not always get to choose their partners and this can cause some conflict. Both co-leaders need to choose one theoretical theory. Groups with two leaders can easily become over structured. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Dangers of Co-Leadership If two leaders do not get along, it can be detrimental and even harmful to the group. Co-leaders might develop competition between themselves and this too is not good for the group. If co-leaders have different skill levels, one might try to lead the other. This can lead to coalitions with other group members or even in the marginalization of the more inexperienced leader. Group members might feel ganged up on if both leaders become adamant in getting across a therapeutic message. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Basics of Co-Leadership Try to pick your own co-leader but if one is picked for you, spend some time getting to know one anther and work out differences before leading the group. Plan strategies, develop signal systems, and have a plan in place to resolve conflict before starting the group. Sit on opposite sides of the group so that you can each observe from different perspectives. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Co-Leadership In a School Setting Co-leadership may be particularly advantageous in the school setting. In many schools, one leader may be called away for emergencies or unexpected events. In that case the other leader can continue with the group. When there are both boys and girls present in the group it is always a good idea to have a male and female co-leader. Co-leaders can model proactive behaviors, communication and conflict resolution skills that would be difficult for one leader to do alone. Co-leaders can provide more of a balance in aspects of gender, race, culture, age, perspective and style. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Supervision Supervision can come be in two primary forms:  Peer supervision: Feedback from a co-leader.  Hierarchical supervision: Supervision from someone with more knowledge and experience. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Ways to Enhance Your Supervision Let supervisors know your growth areas and what you need help on. Evaluate for yourself what you think you did best and what needed improvement and then process this with your supervisor and ask for feedback. Remember times when you felt inept or clueless and identify “should have said’s” and process this with your supervisor. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Leadership, Supervision, Co-Leadership Ways to Enhance Your Supervision Compare notes on critical incidents. How could you have handled it differently? Compare notes on the dynamics of the session and what that meant and what they could mean. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”