Abstract

Due to the lack of competency framework standards for professional group leaders in higher vocational colleges, the selection and recruitment of professional group leaders are often based on some externally visible indicators, which fail to consider the specificity of the competency requirements for this position. This research investigates and summarizes the competency of coaching professional group leaders in the Fujian Province of China. The research has collected primary data from twenty outstanding professional group leaders from different vocational colleges in Fujian Province, China. Based on the qualitative research of grounded theory, the original data were processed through data collection, text coding, inter-code comparison, and other steps for data analysis. The study found three main categories: “sense of value and intention obtained during the construction of leading professional groups (Willingness),” “intellectual basis and personality requirements for the construction of leading professional groups (Competency),” and “key behaviors for the construction of leading professional groups (Feasibility).” Based on the analysis of the relationship among the three main categories, this article proposed the core category of “professional group leadership of professional group leaders.” Finally, it analyzes and expounds on the connotation of the professional group leaders’ competency model from two aspects structure and function. The model developed by this research is a significant contribution to professional group leaders. Theoretically, this research fills the gap in the competence of professional group leaders. Practically, this research is important to improve professional group leaders’ skills. Admittedly, this research has some limitations that are endorsed by some remarkable future directions for scholars in the future to improve the research model and contribution to the body of knowledge.