The change leader in Healthcare Industry

Introduction

Leadership is a combination of tangible and intangible qualities that is becoming extra-important to hospital survival. With an eye to the future of healthcare? the authors present an overview of the characteristics? styles? and challenges of the leader. In an upcoming issue the authors will discuss organizational survival. There is a need for energetic? management-oriented healthcare leaders. Successful hospital administrators must present themselves to employees? physicians? corporate officials? and other colleagues as being in charge and on top of things.

Discussion

A leader is one who goes before or with to show the way? one who influences or guides direction? course? action? or opinion. Great leaders are individuals who possess the secret of power: a compelling vision that draws others into a mission (Neil pp 396). Leaders are effective communicators and change agents and is action oriented. Energy and stamina are necessary elements of their survival potential? because they are expected to go the extra mile. Yet? the leader needs to remain patient and calm amidst stormy environments? difficult decision making? long hours of work? and the seeking of the right combination of moves. In meeting the many challenges of leadership? leaders need to be brave most of the time and wise all of the time. One of the most challenging skills required of leaders is that of effective? clear? and persuasive oral and written communications (Ackerman pp 45).

Bures has studied the growth of management development in the healthcare sector. In his analysis of 472 hospitals nationwide? he discovered that this new wave of management development has generally centered on leadership? motivation? problem solving? labor-relations? and authority topics (Laurie pp 92).

Such programs can promote? among other things? a valuable sense of self-leadership in employees. Developing individual goals? for example? gives trainees the opportunity to describe the information that they actually need for their specific work setting and skills. The ultimate goal of self-leadership practice should be to enhance the effectiveness of employees in managing their own thought patterns. Self-leadership concerns leading oneself toward the performance of naturally motivating--as well as unmotivating--tasks. As the business world continues to adapt and change almost on a daily basis? an organization must stay ahead of the game to be successful. Management and leaders alike continue to have challenges stand in their way of managing in the future because of these constant changes. (Dessler pp 47-145) states? "The leader's role has changed to become more complex and even more critical to success." These managers must work hard to keep their departments running smoothly.

Some countries in Europe offer health plans sponsored by the government for its entire population. Why? some of the European countries have social programs that would compete with some of the former socialist regimes. There are deep rooted socialist views in many of the eastern European countries. As we have seen in the past? communism does not work in reality? nor does socialism. Crossing the line between democracy and socialism is not exactly clearly defined in all cases (Spulber ...