The addiction field faces a critical juncture, grappling with a limited body of research on leadership development amidst an aging workforce. With the average age of current addiction professionals steadily increasing, there is a pressing need for effective strategies to develop the next generation of leaders. Despite the critical need for effective leadership in the addiction field, limited literature addresses leadership development, particularly concerning the ongoing relevance of current leaders in shaping future ones. While research identifies approximately ten common leadership styles, transformational and servant leadership have emerged as potentially fostering both individual growth and responsible service delivery in addiction treatment. This content session explored essential leadership skills and competencies valued by addiction professionals, defined and compared prevalent leadership styles within the field, and identified styles that enhance counselor job satisfaction and mitigate burnout among clinical supervisors. A key emphasis was placed on the alignment of leadership development practices with the NAADAC code of ethics.

PDF (Download Full text)