Leadership in the Society of Counseling Psychology and the Academy: Insights and Reflections

Abstract

In this Presidential Address, I reflect on my leadership journey both within the Society of Counseling Psychology and within the academy. Consistent with the theme of my presidency, Leadership Through Advocacy: Influencing and Advancing Change, I speak to the four initiatives that I developed during my presidential year (2017–2018), namely (a) leadership development in midcareer and early career professionals, (b) continued engagement in respectful dialogues, (c) master’s-level training, and (d) the Society’s strategic plan. Embedded within my leadership style, I speak to nine lessons that I learned as I navigated different leadership roles: leadership is a way of being; leadership is an evolving and developmental process; leadership is relational; leadership is about humility; leadership is about listening; leadership is about communication and amplification; leadership is about respectful and courageous engagement; leadership is about social and political responsibility; and leadership is about transparency and linking the past, present, and future.