Perspectives on leadership in organizations providing services to people with disabilities: an exploratory study

Intellect Dev Disabil. 2009 Oct;47(5):358-72. doi: 10.1352/1934-9556-47.5.358.

Abstract

As leaders from the Baby Boomer generation prepare for retirement over the next decade, emerging leaders must be identified and supported in anticipation of a major organizational transition. Authentic leadership is a construct that informs the development of values-driven leaders who will bring organizations into the future, just as the previous generation of leaders oversaw the movement of services away from state institutions and into networks of community-based service delivery organizations. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine executive and emerging leaders' opinions about the unique leadership values, skills, and challenges in organizations that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Themes of defining, developing, and sustaining leaders emerged from the data and are explored through an authentic leadership framework.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Community Mental Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Community Mental Health Services / trends
  • Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration
  • Delivery of Health Care / trends
  • Female
  • Forecasting
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / psychology
  • Intellectual Disability / rehabilitation*
  • Leadership*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organizational Objectives
  • Program Evaluation / trends
  • Public Policy / trends
  • Social Values*
  • United States