As a leader, one main focus must be on the growth of the organization by assessing the employees, clients, and community while monitoring, assessing and positioning for success Harley-McClaskey (2015).  

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As a leader, one main focus must be on the growth of the organization by assessing the employees, clients, and community while monitoring, assessing and positioning for success Harley-McClaskey (2015).  The important elements of effective organizational leadership include, communicating, monitoring, mentoring, as well as analysis of the future focused on the goals, results, and impact of the organization (Harley McClaskey, 2015).

The first element of an effective organizational leader is communication.  As described by Harley-McClaskey, communication is critical for the human services professional and leader (2015).  She further stated that the first step in being a good communicator is being an active listener.  Eagn (2006) defines active listening as “the ability to listen fully, accurately, and with meaning” (p. 53).   This first element is tied in with Harley-McClaskey’s point about the day-to-day activity of regular staff communications as well as communicating organizational mission, vision, and values.  The leader must give eye contact, positive body language, inviting tone of voice and have an open-minded attitude so effective communication can occur.

The second element of effective organizational leadership is the ability to monitor progress toward organizational goals and processes, review program evaluations and results, review of the client satisfaction data, and more importantly the organizational financial resources (Harley-McClaseky, 2015).  One of the best practices for monitoring is conducting quarterly reviews.  Even though much may not change, it helps to set things in motion should any changes are to be made immediately.

Harley-McClaseky further stated that mentoring is an effective tool for organizational leaders.  As a mentor or an advisor to those who are in training to become future organizational leaders, meetings with direct reports are vital to the employee and the organization.  In addition, while mentoring is being done, employee talent assessments and performance evaluations are done to give feedback on progress, provide professional development for self and employees.

The effective organizational leadership will make future analysis that will focus on the goals, results, and impact of the organization (Harley-McClaskey, 2015).  During this analysis stage, the leader will ensure that the organization is liquid while conducting research to improve the brand, perhaps fundraising efforts as well as involving the stakeholders or community in ensuring that their needs are fulfilled.

It should be everyone’s desire to demand effective organizational leadership.  As Harley-McCaskey referenced, “selecting and monitoring growth measures provides a stream of feedback data that functions like a dashboard for leaders to use when leading the organization to a successful future.”  Therefore, we should strive to become the best leaders we can.