NASW Leadership

BECOMING AND ADVANCING AS AN NASW LEADER

Being involved in the NASW leadership process allows you to share your vision, participate in decision making, and influence and shape association policy on behalf of the profession and the clients and members you serve.

An assumption of prospective nominees is that being nominated for national office comes only at the end of a long professional career. Not true! However, it is essential that nominees demonstrate interest and participation in NASW activities, and involvement with your chapter is the place to start. NASW is committed to the idea that a professional membership must encourage member participation and assist members in becoming a voice for the profession.

Leadership: Assessing Your Qualifications

The strength of NASW is determined by the quality of its leadership. Identifying and recruiting new leaders for an association is a continuous and critical function.

In referring to the concept of leadership, most research cites the relevance of interpersonal influence that is exercised in a situation directed toward the achievement of a common goal. Furthermore, it is suggested that leadership involves three behaviors: (1) providing vision for an organization, (2) developing people within the organization, and (3) displaying a positive attitude toward change.

Assessing your qualifications to serve in a leadership position is a necessary step in your decision to become involved in guiding the affairs of the association and to be responsible for deciding on policies and priorities, policy implementation, and the equitable allocation of association resources. As you analyze your training and experience and identify your skills and abilities that can be applied to a particular position, it is important to remember that the present leadership is not composed of superhumans, although they are well-qualified based on a background of education and experience.

*Information sources to help assess your qualifications include:

1. Your interest in the elected or appointed position. Why do you want to serve as a board, National Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification (NCNLI), committee, or task force member? Will you be able to put in the time and work necessary to do a good job? Does your willingness to serve in a specific capacity equate with your ability?
2. Your professional training and experience. Consider your educational background and your professional experience, highlighting qualities that directly pertain to your leadership interest.
3. Your demonstrated interest and participation at the chapter and national, levels of NASW. List the ways you have contributed to the association. Consider whether you need more leadership opportunities at the chapter level, national level, or both to prepare you for your present interest. If so, seek our means to gin the required experience.
4. Personal qualities. How do you see yourself, and how do other people see you? The following list may help you define yourself. Which qualities apply to you?

• Ability to look at things with a broad view (to see what's best for the whole)
• Ability to make decisions
• Visionary perspective with consideration for stability
• Tolerance for individual differences
• Ability to build a consensus
• Ability to plan
• Self-motivation
• Cooperative
• Creativity
• Flexibility
• Facilitative
• Confidence
• Ability to relate to a wide variety of people
• Ability to work within guidelines
• Tolerance for stress
• Broad scope of knowledge
• Willingness to take risks
• Innovative
• Analytical
• Goal-directed
• Self-direction
• Enthusiasm
• Ability to make sound judgments
• Courage
• Open-mindedness

Where to Contribute Your Experience, Skills, and Expertise

You will want to become familiar with the various boards, committees, and task forces that exist within the association at the chapter and national levels. Think about past activities that you have participated in. What knowledge and skills are transferable to another situation?

Before you decide to become a nominee, it is necessary to obtain as much information as possible about the particular elected or appointed position that is of interest to you. Several kinds of information are necessary to assist you with your decision, including board, committee, and task force authorization and accountability; the general purpose and specific responsibility of the position; the number of members on the board, committee, or task force in which you are interested; the terms of the position; and specific board, committee, or task force membership criteria.

There are also documents at the chapter and national offices to assist you, such as national election guidelines; chapter nominations and election standards; committee charges; position descriptions; and board, committee, and task force vacancy lists. Talking to an NCNLI member, the chairperson of your Chapter Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification, or to current and past committee members are other significant means of gaining information related to your leadership interest.

Having completed these steps, you may decide that you are ready to become a nominee for a leadership position. If so, make your interest known to your chapter, the national office, or both, or seek out a mentor in your chapter and let him or her know of your interest in preparing for a leadership nomination.