Wild Card: Leadership

            The more experience I gain in health care and further along I get in this program, leadership is always a topic for debate and scrutiny. Leadership is so important to the success and productivity of any organization, however, the definition of a leader is somewhat a topic of debate; and no two individuals are alike. Defining a correct or incorrect way of leadership is a bit of a challenge. It is in my opinion a good leader possesses a multitude of skills and attributes that makes them an effective or ineffective leader.

            Leadership is about possessing a high level of commitment and accountability; a good leader is one that is intelligent, takes the initiative, communicates well with others, is approachable, can motivate others and has a clear vision of expectations and goals. Leadership for quality is about inspiring others to be motivated and committed to the cause, adding energy to the room and eliminating those who may suck the energy out.

            Poor leadership can cost an organization. The ability to motivate, give direction and inspire others is easier said than done. Even though a good leader focuses on results and not friendships, it is important to be able to inspire others without being too over-bearing. Many organizations can suffer from incompetent, unethical, and abusive leadership. This sort of leadership can create many problems within an organization and can deplete financial resources and an exorbitant amount of time in correcting areas where mismanagement has occurred.

            It is my opinion that properly training our future health care leaders is key to continuous quality improvement and pivotal to the success of any organization. Leadership is a skill.  To me, it is about the embodiment of core values, the ability to initiate structure, consistency in thought and action, as well as, having respect and consideration for ones subordinates. Although it seems relative, finding a balance between them can pose more of a challenge. Hence, why it is so important to prepare the future health care leaders for the challenges that lay ahead; and to give them the tools to set up a work environment for success. Being a part of the MHSA program has taught me a lot about what it means to lead and inspire others, and is and is hopefully a budding start to a successful career in the health care industry.