Self Portrait of a Leader

After completing my Glyph for the second time, I realized my results were very similar to the results from the first time. I believe that the ability to be a leader is not embedded in you when you are born. I believe that anyone can be a leader if they have the right support in their life. I think it is very important for occupational therapists to be leaders. If we are not comfortable with being a leader, our clients will not trust us as much to carry out treatment sessions with them. Not all leaders see themselves as a leader, but that doesn’t mean that others don’t see them as a leader. Although leaders should be organized, I believe that creativity makes for a better leader. I fully believe that introverts can be effective leaders. I am an introvert and I consider myself as a leader. 

Instructions: 

Glyph Key for Drawing A Self-Portrait of a Leader

Face Shape: If you believe that leadership is an inborn trait, draw a triangle-shaped head.  If you think that leadership stems from nurture over nature, draw a square-shaped head.

Eyes: If you think the vast majority of OTs are leaders, make big circles for the eyes.  If you think there is a fairly equal mixture of leaders and non-leaders in the field of OT, draw small circles for the eyes.  Fill in the pupils.  Add glasses if you feel that you have had more experience in leadership roles than most other people your age at this point in life.

Eyelashes: Draw one eyelash on each of the eyes for each of the five themes you can name based on your personal Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment from earlier in the curriculum.

Eyebrows: If you like to take the role of the leader in an out-in-front way, make curved eyebrows.  If your leadership style is more behind the scenes, make pointy eyebrows.

Nose: Draw a triangle nose if you think that seeing yourself as a leader is necessary to being a leader.  Draw a rounded nose if you believe that a person can be a leader without seeing himself or herself as a leader.

Skin:  Add a freckle anywhere on the skin of the face if you believe that self-awareness is vital to effective leadership.  Leave the skin clear if you don’t think it’s an essential trait.

Mouth: Draw a smiling mouth if you can think of at least one leader who has had a positive impact on you.  Draw a frown if you can’t think of a good example of a leader.

Ears: Draw round ears if you think technology is an important part of effective leadership in many situations. Draw pointy ears if don’t think so.

Hair: Draw the hair based on a continuum, based on your personal viewpoint in two areas:

What’s more important in leadership: 
Curly hair  <------------------------->  Straight hair 

creativity or organization?    
Creativity  <-------------------------->  Organization

                             AND

Can an introvert be an effective leader?         
Short hair <-------------------------> Long hair

No way  <------ I’m unsure -----> Definitely yes

Accessories: Add at least one accessory (example: a piece of jewelry) if you see yourself as a leader.  Add a hat if the way you think about or approach leadership has changed as a result of what you have learned since beginning in OT school.

Finishing Touch: Label your paper with your name, writing in cursive if you have a written plan or goal about to serving in leadership roles in the future; write in print if you do not yet have a written plan.

Locus of Control

According to the Locus of Control, there are 2 types: internal and external. They can range from extreme internal to extreme external, or anywhere in between. An individual with a strong internal locus of control believe that things in their life is caused by their own personal actions. These individuals often blame themselves for everything that happens in their life. An individual with a strong external locus of control believe that things in their life are caused by external factors in their life, and not by them. These individuals often blame others and outside factors for things that happen in their life.

For an Occupational Therapist, it is important for us to understand Locus of Control. Without understanding this concept, it would be difficult for us to develop a treatment plan that best fit the personality of the client. Also, we need to understand what our personal Locus of Control is, so that we can be the best practitioner that we can be. If we understand which side of the continuum we fall into, it will be easier for us to help clients that have the same, or even opposite locus of controls as we do.

After I completed the Rotter’s Locus of Control Questionnaire, the results were not what I expected. I was expecting to be more on the side of internal locus of control, but according to the results, I was more toward the external locus of control. Even though the results were not what I was expecting, it is important that I understand my locus of control and how it affects my personality. I believe this will make me a better OT practitioner because I will be able to understand which treatment plans will work best for each type of locus of control.