Affinity Continuum: Toward Professional Autonomy

Abstract

How does one become a good leader? The authors suggest that the path toward professional autonomy is illustrated by the affinity continuum. This is an original model of how skills are acquired based on a descriptive approach to a learner’s affinity to those skills. The authors describe trainer strategies that support reaching higher affinity levels in a learner and link them to a specific teaching style. The transitions between the stages are illustrated with a case study of a teacher trainee learning to use the drama triangle. Three affinity stages are presented—tentative, symptomatic, and conceptual—each of which is accompanied by the identification of discounts that are typically observed in trainees in the given affinity stage. The fourth stage is professional autonomy, where the skill becomes an integral part of the learner’s skill set and professionalself. The authors propose that effective leaders should strive for professional autonomy and that they can use the affinity continuum as a tool for supporting the growth of their team.