Leadership Competencies and Growth Mindset
Introduction: Leadership as a Practice That Grows
As you move into this final conversation of Module 1, the focus shifts from who leaders are to how leadership develops over time. Leadership in occupational therapy is not a fixed trait or personality type—it is a practice that is shaped through experience, reflection, learning, and changing contexts. It evolves across roles, settings, and seasons of life, responding to both growth and constraint.
This lesson invites you to reconsider common myths about leadership and instead view it as a set of learnable, observable behaviors grounded in self-awareness, communication, ethics, and systems thinking. You’ll explore how leadership competencies are built through curiosity rather than perfection, reflection rather than self-criticism, and listening rather than having all the answers.
As you watch, consider how leadership growth has looked in your own journey so far—and how it may continue to unfold in ways that support both effectiveness and well-being. This is not about becoming someone new, but about leading with greater intention, integrity, and care in the roles and relationships you already hold.
Reading
To read more about leadership characteristics and competencies, read this article from the Center for Creative Leadership, “12 Essential Qualities of Effective Leadership.”