Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify the leadership practices and behaviors most commonly used by clinical supervisors to influence subordinates to provide quality services to their clients. The study examined the frequency of clinical supervisor's engagement in leadership behaviors based on their self perception and the perceptions of their subordinates. The study also identified leadership behavioral differences between men and women clinical supervisors. Methodology. The researcher used a descriptive methodology. The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) by James Kouzes and Barry Posner (2002) was administered in this study. Clinical supervisors from Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties were asked to respond to their perceptions on their use of the thirty leadership behaviors (LPI Self). Their subordinates were asked how they perceive that the clinical supervisors engagement in these exemplary leadership behaviors (LPI Observer). Findings. The data identified the following findings: (1) Clinical supervisors ranked themselves higher in leadership practices that modeled the way, challenged the process and encouraged the heart. (2) Subordinates perceived clinical supervisors as exemplary leaders that Modeled the Way, Inspired a Shared Vision and Encouraged the Heart. (3) Challenged the Process and Enabled Others to Act exhibited the most significant difference between the clinical supervisors' and subordinates' scores. (4) Modeled the way and Inspired a Shared Vision were the two leadership practices that showed significant difference between men and women clinical supervisors. (5) Male clinical supervisors ranked themselves higher in most of the leadership behaviors. Conclusions. The data supports the following conclusions: (1) Clinical supervisors create systems for obtaining ongoing feedback on their leadership practices. (2) Clinical supervisors serve as mentors to new clinical supervisors and interns. (3) Clinical supervisors engage in professional development opportunities. (4) Clinical supervisors develop mechanisms that create positive interpersonal communication skills and cooperative relationships that build trust and mutual respect. Recommendations. The findings from this study indicate the following implications for further study: (1) Study of university curricula to determine the number and nature of undergraduate and graduate programs that provides opportunities for students to learn about leadership and management behaviors. (2) Replication of this study could be conducted using the Leadership Practice Inventory and survey only one county in the State of California. (3) Case study designed to explore in more depth the impact of the most important and commonly used leadership behaviors used by a group of practitioners with the same educational background and training. (4) Study on the clinical supervisors' specific actions that relates to one of the five leadership practices.