Group Leader Characteristics
Personal Characteristics of the Effective
Group Leader (Corey & Corey, 1997)
1.
Courage – it does not mean
being without fears but rather it means acknowledging fears and dealing with
them.
2.
Willingness to model – leaders
teach by example
3.
Presence – being emotionally
present is extremely important
4.
Goodwill and Caring – A sincere
interest in the welfare of others is essential
5.
Belief in group process –
believe in what you are doing and the trust the therapeutic forces within a
group
6.
Openness – be open to yourself,
open to members of the group, open to new experiences, and open to lifestyles
and values that differ from your own
7.
Becoming aware of your own
culture – knowing how your own culture influences your decisions and daily
behavior provides a frame of reference for understanding the world view of
those who differ from you.
8.
Non defensiveness in coping
with attacks – Dealing frankly with criticism is related to openness
9.
Personal power – does not
entail domination of members or manipulation of them toward the leader’s end.
Rather it is the dynamic and vital characteristics of leaders who know who they
are and what they want. This power involves a certain confidence in the self
and certain charisma.
10.
Stamina – Group leading can be
taxing and draining as well as exciting and energizing. Therefore you need
physical and psychological stamina and the ability to withstand pressure to
remain vitalized throughout the course of a group
11.
Willingness to seek new
experiences – personhood is largely determined by the variety of life
experiences
12.
Self-awareness – A central
characteristic for any therapeutic person is an awareness of self, including
one’s identity, cultural perspective, goals, motivations, needs, limitations,
strengths, values, feelings and problems
13.
Sense of humor – Although
therapy is serious business there are many humorous dimensions of the human
condition.
14.
Inventiveness – The capacity to
be spontaneously creative, approaching each group with fresh ideas, is a most
important characteristic.
15.
Personal dedication and
commitment – Being a professional who makes a difference involves having ideals
that provide meaning and direction in your life. It also involves humility
which means being open to feedback and ideas and being willing to explore one’s
self.
Leadership Characteristics (What makes and
effective leader?) (Masson, et. Al)
1.
Experience with individuals
2.
Experience with groups
3.
Planning and organizational
skills
4.
Knowledge of the topic
5.
A good understanding of basic
human conflicts and dilemmas
6.
A good understanding of
counseling theory
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