Strong leadership is critical in the healthcare industry. Healthcare professionals are likely to be assigned significant leadership duties at some point in their careers or have to take on more responsibility. As Regina Temple mentions, establishing an effective leadership style is vital to creating the organizational culture of a healthcare facility and ensure that it can tackle complicated healthcare delivery challenges.
Regina Templesheds light on some of the most common types of healthcare leadership styles
Healthcare leaders have to work in a fairly dynamic field that tends to be characterized by a constant push to deliver safe, efficient and high-quality care. In order to succeed in this goal, it is vital to capably lead administrative and clinical teams while successfully managing resources. Healthcare leaders have to constantly adapt and innovate solutions in order to succeed in an industry known for rapidly evolving technological and clinical advancements. Here are some of the key leadership styles they may follow:
- Collaborative leadership: This leadership style involves working with team members, executives and other leaders in order to achieve specific goals. Each and every team member tends to receive the same information and provides their suggestions and opinions to complete tasks. Such a leadership style promotes creativity and inclusivity at the workplace, which essentially motivates the team members. A clinical team leader who involves all the team members in the decision-making process of how to run a clinic and what to do to improve the efficiency of the facility shall be a good example of collaborative leadership in a health care setting.
- Transformational leadership: This leadership style involves changing the function and structure of an organization. Leaders must encourage their team members to explore ways for improving specific aspects of how the organization operates. Transformational leadership enables team members to effectively demonstrate leadership as well. For instance, when a healthcare centre opens a new wing or department, the leader of that department invites team members to generate ideas for its operation. This approach boosts the confidence of the team members.
- Distributed leadership: Distributed leadership means sharing responsibility with others. Under such a style, one is able to take on a leadership role in a project if they have expertise in that area. Unlike traditional leadership styles where higher-ups assign tasks, this style allows individuals to lead by giving them autonomy. For example, a senior doctor following a distributed leadership style can allow junior doctors to lead a procedure or run a clinic.
- Charismatic Leadership: Charismatic leadership involves leading through charisma and persuasiveness. Charismatic leaders use their interpersonal skills to build relationships and inspire their team. For instance, a medical director with a charismatic leadership style can motivate their team to achieve specific goals, such as completing a set number of elective procedures within a certain timeframe.
As Regina Temple underlines, the varying approaches for management and leadership in the domain of healthcare provide leaders with distinctive ways to relate to, interact with, and motivate those under their charge. To be successful, leaders must decide how they want to lead, and select a leadership style as per its accordance.
