Responsive Leadership in Social Services

Stephen de Groot is a clinical and organizational consultant and author of the Relationship Based Strengths Approach (RBSA) (2003, 2013) for helping, the Empowering Social Workers Project (2006, 2010), and the Responsive Leadership Approach (2013) for Supervisors and Managers. As an associate professor and sessional instructor, de Groot has taught in both BSW and MSW programs for seven years with the faculty of social work at the University of Manitoba. Stephen has worked with more than 200 organizations within the human services and corporate sectors and has provided support, education, and learning development to professionals working in child welfare, mental health, child and youth care, youth homelessness, addictions, justice, education, and health. As an international trainer of more than 20,000 participants, de Groot has made it his mission not only to inspire people but to empower and equip them with knowledge and tools so that they may also inspire and transform themselves and those for whom they are responsible. Stephen has occupied and continues to operate in a myriad of roles such as consultant, supervisor/manager, executive coach, trainer, author, and international speaker. Outside of his professional endeavors, Stephen continues to help others by devoting a great deal of his resources to giving and charity work. He is founder of the Getting to BetterTM Initiative and chair of the advisory board of a global kindness movement known as Life Vest InsideTM. De Groot also promotes and supports the great work of two important nonprofit organizations: See BeautifulTM and VOICES, Manitoba's Youth in Care Network.

Acknowledgments Preface About the Author PART I. A Case for Responsive Leadership Chapter 1. Embracing Social Service Realities: Impediments to Preferred Practice and Quality Supervision Social Service Workers: A Motivated and Committed Resource Social Services: A Tough Work Environment The Loss of Great Helpers: Implications for Employee and Client Outcomes Supervision: A Possible Solution in a Crisis Summary of Important Points Personal Leader Reflections and Considerations References Chapter 2. Responsive Leadership: From Supervision to Inspiration Leadership Defined Quality and Effective Leadership: Key Ingredients The Road to Responsive Leadership Approach The Building Blocks of a Responsive Leadership Approach The Guiding Priorities of Responsive Leadership Summary of Important Points Personal Leader Reflections and Considerations PART II. From Concepts to Practice: Responsive Leadership Strategies and Tools Chapter 3. Perception Is Everything Perceptions of Effective Supervision and Quality Leadership The Employee and the Employee's Story The Preferred Leadership Profile: Purpose The Preferred Leadership Profile: Structure and Process Ensuring Success: The Dos and Don'ts of the PLP Summary of Important Points Personal Leader Reflections and Considerations References Chapter 4. Meaning Making: Practical Strategies for Understanding and Accessing the Employee Story Discovery and the Employee Story Barriers to an Accurate Understanding of the Employee Story Well-Intentioned and Unfortunate Pitfalls: Two Very Different Case Situations The Importance of Relationships and Communication Getting to Better by Accessing the Employee Story Responsive Leadership: Priorities, Strategies, and Tools Responsive Communication and Relations-Oriented Discovery Discovery Responses and Discovery Questions Making Meaning of the Challenge for Valerie Important Comments on Meaning-Making Responses and Questions Summary of Important Points Personal Leader Reflections and Considerations Chapter 5. A Strengths Focus and Quality Leadership A Dire Need to Emphasize Strengths Challenges to a Strengths Focus in Supervision and Management A Problem Focus and Implications for Workers Using a Strengths Approach to Enhance Quality Leadership The Profound Implications of a Strengths Approach Summary of Important Points Personal Leader Reflections and Considerations References Chapter 6. Doing Quality Leadership: Practical Strategies for Inspiring Relationship Domain Vision and Values Domain Mission and Goals Domain Appreciative Domain Personal and/or Professional Growth Domain Feedback Domain Strengths Domain Summary of Important Points Personal Leader Reflections and Considerations Chapter 7. Understanding and Approaching Resistance and Opposition What Are Resistance and Opposition? Types of Resistance and Opposition A Real Dilemma: Misunderstanding Employee Resistance and Opposition Common and Problematic Beliefs About Resistance and Opposition A Different Perspective: Resistance and Opposition as Information Proactive Approaches for Minimizing and Even Eliminating Opposition and Resistance Important Considerations for Supervisors to Avoid Resistance Altogether Similar Behaviors, Different Meaning Guiding Principles for Dealing Effectively With Resistance and Opposition Revisiting Situation 2 From Chapter 4: Getting James Back on the Floor Care-Fronting James: Approaching Resistance and Opposition, A Process Guide for Leaders Summary of Important Points Personal Leader Reflections and Considerations Chapter 8. Epilogue Where to Go From Here? Final Leadership Reflections and Considerations Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D

"Responsive Leadership has enhanced our capacity more than any other approach undertaken. . . . De Groot's approach has improved employee and client outcomes." -- John Colangeli , CEO, Lutherwood, Waterloo, Canada "A useful yet practical approach any social service supervisor would find helpful." -- Gregg Allinson, Beaufort County Community College "The author has articulated solid supervisory practices which are consistent with my view of the field of supervision in the human services. I also concur with his important contribution of providing students with hands-on tools that they can carry and use in the field." -- Denise K Sommers, University of Illinois Springfield "De Groot presents an undercover point-of-view of the social service agency by providing students with perspectives and actions from a supervisor's normal day in the trenches of organizational supervision." -- Juanita Johnson, Union Institute and University "[D]e Groot's commitment to the success and fulfillment of employees is apparent in his thoughtful and authentic approach to supervision . . . Through the application of practical and straightforward strategies based on communication and feedback strategies, [de Groot] offers a unique approach to supervision practice based on the 'how' of positive communication." -- Leslie W. O'Ryan, Western Illinois University - Quad Cities