Becoming a leader: catalysts and barriers to leader identity construction

ABSTRACT

In response to increased calls for research that can provide greater understanding of the relational and contextual issues surrounding leader identity construction processes, this qualitative study aims to provide insights into the subjective experience of constructing a leader identity within the context of organizations. Drawing on data from 50 semi-structured interviews, this paper focuses on significant sub-themes, which were grouped into two categories, namely identity catalysts (e.g. issues that participants identified as positively aiding in their leader identity construction process) and identity barriers (e.g. issues that participants identified as negatively impacting their leader identity construction process). These catalysts and barriers will be elaborated upon and their relationship to leader identity explained. This paper provides new insights into the leader identity construction process by using Leadership Identity Construction Theory as a lens for interpretation, and offers notable implications for theory, research and practice.     

Measuring client-centred attitudes

The development of a Counsellor Attitude Scale is reported. Other attempts to measure client-centred attitudes are reviewed, with particular attention to reliability and validity. In the past much of the research on counsellor attitudes has been based on Porter's Test of Counsellor Attitudes. The Counsellor Attitude Scale provides another instrument for measuring client-centredness. The final version is a modification by the authors of a scale developed by Stewart in the late 1950s. With its ease of administration and scoring, the new scale may prove valuable in counsellor selection and counselling research. Since its items are based on theoretical and practical issues in client-centred counselling, the scale is also useful for counsellor training. Data on reliability and validity are reviewed, and sample items from the Counsellor Attitude Scale are provided.