My second question to Terry was, what qualities do you believe make a great leader in healthcare today? She said her top leadership qualities are learning to get along with people, being open, and not hesitating to talk to them. She said that collaboration is one of the essential skills she learned in her journey and position; building strong relationships with other departments and outside the work benefits every leader. She further mentioned the importance of not being afraid of change, actively listening, and being innovative, which are also valuable skills for a strong leader. Never stopping learning is another essential suggestion Mrs$.$ Wallowitch mentioned because changes in healthcare are always happening, and technological innovations are as well; she said a good leader must be willing to read, learn, and keep up with the upgrades. A few things Terry added regarding her ideas of being a good leader in healthcare are the importance of accountability and transparency. Making sure that you follow up with what you say will make you accountable for your actions. Integrity goes a long way in building trust with your staff. In her vision, transparency for a leader is that you are honest with staff, provide reasons for why things need to be done, and communicate to them why specific requests cannot be performed.

In my reflections on this question, compared to the knowledge I gained during this course, I can fully admit that the qualifications mentioned by Mrs$.$ Wallowitch for a strong leader are proven by science. Many articles list the most essential qualifications that a good leader must obtain. According to the Global Healthcare Management Competency Directory, ACHE $(2015),$ some competencies recommended for qualified healthcare leaders include sharing the organization's goals and priorities with the team and the external partners. Alternatively, as Mrs$.$ Walowithch mentioned, it is essential to communicate with people and build a strong relationship with all parties in the organization. The same article suggests promoting continuous education and improvement across organizations; Terry suggested that a strong leader should never stop learning and keep up with healthcare innovations. Leading by example and holding yourself and others accountable fit her description of a good leader today. Lastly, as Mrs$.$ mentioned, leadership integrity is essential for setting a strong example of ethical behavior and staying true to moral values and principles $($Din & Zhang, $2023).$

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Some suggested guiding questions to help you form your reflection:

$$ How did this assignment impact your understanding of the leadership concepts discussed each week?

$$ Did the discussion give you any new insight into leadership beyond what was provided in class?

$$ Has this assignment changed the way you see leaders and leadership responsibilities?

$$ Are you more or less likely to want to achieve a leadership position yourself?