Читать книгу Counseling Leaders and Advocates - Группа авторов - Страница 51

Greenleaf (1970), in his early essay on servant leadership, claimed the powerful truth that it takes courage to change the paradigms of leadership. There is a tendency for individuals to perpetuate the status quo to maintain their positions of power, often at the expense of others. Referring to the early works of Albert Camus, Greenleaf called on us to “create dangerously,” to be willing to get out of our comfort zones and fulfill our potential to solve the problems counselors encounter in new and powerful ways. Furthermore, he evoked courage not only for natural servants to become leaders but also for followers to identify servant leaders and join their efforts. This may be the first step for any of us on our journey to become advocacy leaders.

Samuel Templeman Gladding (2017), counseling author, leader, and advocate, described early career decisions that were most influential to his development. The most fundamental step was simply to identify himself as a counselor, which then inspired him to get involved in professional associations. Remley and Herlihy (2020) affirm that “having a sense of pride in one’s chosen profession” is an essential step toward becoming a professional (p. 55). As you begin your journey, counseling associations may be a place not only to learn from servant leaders but also a place where students and new professionals shape those divisions and priorities (Brubaker, 2020). It is also where critical networking may occur to share common concerns (Remley & Herlihy, 2020) and to organize advocacy efforts (Brubaker, 2020).

All great leaders in the counseling profession had the same beginnings; that is, they were once master’s students considering how they could help others. But they also learned the importance of connecting with others in the profession to gain knowledge, secure resources, and mobilize advocacy efforts. As you reflect on the needs and opportunities that lie before you, we encourage you to create dangerously as you listen to your communities, collaborate with other professionals, and leverage your training as a counselor, leader, and advocate to make a difference.