This paper will focus on describing how the background (culture, age, race, gender, etc.) of the person you choose to interview influences his/her/their leadership style and approach.
1. Interview a person who is currently in a leadership or high-level management position in the social work field. This person must be different from you in two ways (e.g., gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identification, etc.).
2. The following questions should be explored:
1. How would you describe your leadership style?
2. How would you describe your top values that guide your philosophy about leadership, and how does that manifest in your style of leadership?
• How do you feel that your own personal background and experiences have influenced the manner in which you (1) came to develop your leadership style? (2) ways that you mentor or coach others? (3) ways that you contribute to the organizational culture and workplace climate?
1. How would you describe your organizational culture? How does that differ or align with your own cultural experiences and background?
2. How do you approach motivating staff members? How might your background and culture influence that?
3. How diverse is the workforce that you lead? What are your thoughts on that?
• How does your organization, and you as a leader, strive to promote inclusion within the organization?
• Have you experienced times when it was difficult talking about the differences that existed between you and those you lead? Can you talk about that experience?
1. What is your greatest leadership challenge?
Based on the interviewees’ responses, what inferences can be drawn from your interview related to culturally competent leadership? Discuss the importance of why self-reflection needs to be infused with culturally competent leadership and management? Discuss the importance of diversity in mentoring and leading others. Why is it so essential for organizations and teams, and how can it be promoted?
