Assignment: Leadership Self-Reflection

Introduction

While leadership has certain general and transferable qualities, leadership in health care is different from leadership in other industries.

In this assignment, will investigate qualities and attributes necessary for success in health-care leadership. You will then reflect on your personal career goals and how your abilities align with published leadership models.

Instructions

1. This self-reflection is an individual assignment to be done independently. Submit a one-page summary of a leadership style, describing how and why this model is applicable to your clinical setting, team and organizational culture. Research and reference at least five leadership styles but only summarize the one that applies to you. More details are outlined in the Part I and Part II instructions.
2. Use AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION format in your document. Marking criteria is included at the end of this assignment.
3. Check the course schedule for the due date. Your instructor will inform you of the delivery instructions.

Part I: Research Health-Care Leadership Styles

Instructions

1. Research models of leadership specifically related to health care. See the resources section below for some ideas. In your paper, note at least five leadership models that you researched but only summarize the one that applies to you.
2. Compare the common themes encountered in your research with the ones below:

• Partnering with patients and families at all levels of decision-making
• Engaging key players, stakeholders and decision-makers
• Informing executive sponsors of interval progress and seeking support to remove barriers
• Collaborating with inter-professional teams
• Cultivating psychological safety and team effectiveness behaviours
• Leading improvement of patient outcomes and reducing patient harm

Part II: Reflection on Your Health-Care Leadership Style

1. Reflect on your current leadership position. You may also choose to think about a position you wish to occupy as the next step in your career.
2. Based on your research, which of the themes you explored would be most important in that role?
3. Assess your current leadership style. Identify potential areas for growth.
4. What areas of your leadership style need shoring up? What will you do to improve in these areas?
5. Who are the key players, stakeholders and decision-makers who would impact your success the most in this role? How does this align (or not) with your discovery about your leadership style?

Resources

• Swensen, S., Pugh, M., McMullan, C., Kabcenell, A. High-Impact Leadership: Improve Care, Improve the Health of Populations, and Reduce Costs. IHI White Paper. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2013.

Frankel, A.S., Leonard, M.W., & Denham, C. R.Fair and Just Culture, Team Behavior, and Leadership Engagement: The Tools to Achieve High Reliability. Health Services Research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1955339/