Healthcare Leader

Write 825-1,250 word paper. Refer to the questions and responses from your interview.
Analyze your findings using the information on leadership styles and theories, and the
positive and negative outcomes associated with various leadership approaches,
presented in this course. Summarize the conclusions of your analysis in regard to the
following:
1.Describe the leadership style, or styles (transformational, transactional, visionary,
servant, etc.) communicated by the leader. Provide examples to support your
explanation.
2.Describe what motivational strategies used by the leader.
3.Identify organizational behavior/cultural issues the leader has formally or informally
addressed. Describe the leader’s role in those situations, and how the leader’s
motivational strategies or models affected organizational behavior/culture.
4.Describe the positive and negative outcomes that occurred as a result of the leader’s
overall approach.
5.Based upon the organizational outcomes, determine the most effective strategies the
leader could implement in the future in order to improve, or continuing to improve,
organizational and individual performance.

Healthcare Leader

The medical field has mandatory regulations and standards that govern its staff. These
regulations are set by regulatory agencies such as the board of nurses and community health
accreditation programs. They help guide patient care practices, regulate standards of medical
care, enhance patient safety, and promote healthy outcomes (McDonald, 2014). Effective
leadership is required to ensure health institutions adhere to set standards and regulations in

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running their operations. Healthcare leaders should be skilled in communicating, thinking
reflectively, developing knowledge, empowering others, solving problems, creating and
facilitating learning, working with others, and making decisions (Sullivan, 2013). They need
to appreciate the differences in people, understand people’s problems, and recognize
individual needs. This paper summarises the outcomes of an interview with a healthcare
leader.

Interview Questions

1. What leadership styles have you adopted to manage your staff?
2. How do you inspire your staff?
3. What are the impacts of your leadership styles?
4. What motivates you to be a leader?
5. How do you motivate your staff?
6. What drives you to be a leader?
7. What are the significant challenges you face while exercising your leadership skills?
8. What are the positive and negative outcomes of your leadership approach?
9. What skills and traits should a leader possess?
10. What advice can you give to young people who are aspiring to be leaders?

Leadership Style

I chose to interview Miss Spencer, who is a member of the Nurses Association. I asked
Spencer of the leadership style she has adopted to manage her staff. She responded that she is
a feminist leader in healthcare who uses a transformational style of leadership. She has
actively participated in inspiring and educating women about their rights. She pushed for the
quick release of retirement benefits for retired nurses. Furthermore, she helped in the struggle

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to change the laws that limit patient load and increasing the number of union members. Her
leadership style has made her popular and successful within the union leadership.

Motivational Strategies

Miss Spencer pointed out that Importance and Optimism is the motivational strategy that has
allowed her to achieve her goals. She inspires her employees by conveying a sense of
optimism and importance about their work. She is a strong motivator and can influence
cultural changes. She has inspired many people through sharing of her successes.

Organizational Behavior

I asked Miss Spencer about the healthcare issues she has addressed in her position.
She was more concerned with the issues of women empowerment such as the low wages they
receive. She pointed out that her employment and work has been built on her mission to
strengthen women cultural rights. She noted that more than 90 percent of the members in
Nursing Association are women and she has done everything possible to equip each one of
them with skills to fight for their rights whenever there is a need. She further added that the
issues of understaffing and low wages are the key obstacles that face healthcare sector. These
problems have led to the stretching of hospitals facilities leading to an increase in treatment
costs. With such unpleasant conditions, some medical practitioners feel averse to remain in
employment thus adding to turnover costs.

Positive and Negative Outcomes

According to Spencer, positive and negative outcomes are dependent on an individual
approach. In her view, the positive outcomes as a result of the unions pushing for change
include an increase in employment of medical attendants in healing facilities which have
consequently led to a reduction in mortality rates. The negative outcomes include the
reduction of government expenditure on social insurance which has led to an increase in
public Medicare payments.

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Effective Strategies

The best strategy any leader can utilize is the visualization of the causes of problems.
Spencer pointed out that the most significant challenge facing women’s rights is destitution,
the struggle to manage social orders, and disparity in wages. By empowering women through
awarding them administration positions, they can gain leadership skills which help in setting
up meaningful and effective strategies (Wakefield, 2017). Spencer added that visionary and
transformative leaders use strategies that focus on people-oriented change. These leaders are
motivated, brave, and goal oriented. They utilize their leadership skills in bringing supportive
change to the people they lead.

Conclusion

When I asked Spencer what advice she can give to young people aspiring to be
leaders, she paused for a moment then responded by saying that no one can fix the world, but
anyone can positively impact on other people’s lives one step at a time. She continued by
saying that people should follow what they believe in especially if it is a worthy course of
helping other people. She stated that one should be consistent, fair, and dare to try again after
failing to achieve their goals and objectives. She added that compassion is an important
aspect that drives leaders to achieve what other people have failed to achieve. Her last words
were “always pray and set a good example for others to follow.” Overall, the interview
experience was pleasant and educational. Spencer took enough time to answer all the
questions I asked her in a relaxed and welcoming tone. Her leadership style makes her easily
approachable and comfortable to have a conversation with. Her strong personal believes, and
values give her the ability to motivate and inspire anyone aspiring to be a leader. She has
fully dedicated herself to her profession and has a strong desire of making her staff competent
and successful. Her poise and demeanor is a demonstration that she loves her job with
passion.

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References

McDonald, R. (2014). Leadership and leadership development in healthcare settings–a
simplistic solution to complex problems?. International journal of health policy and
management, 3(5), 227.
Sullivan, E.J. (2013). Effective leadership and management in nursing (8th ed.). Boston, MA:
Pearson/Prentice Hall
Wakefield, S. (2017). Transformative and Feminist Leadership for Women’s Rights.