Healthcare Management - Role Organization Leaders Play in Corporate Culture, Performance, and Change - Coursework Example

Abstract

Leaders and managers are dissimilar regarding their focus, perspectives, hopes, expectations, and even inspirations. However, they both have a degree of influence and say on what other people do (Ellis & Abbott, 2010). They, therefore, must have skills and behaviors that help them perform effectively in their positions. These abilities and behaviors are referred to as leadership competencies (SHRM, 2008). To be considered for any managerial or leadership position, an individual needs to display a particular set of leadership skills. Examples of skills in leadership include, but are not limited to, strategic planning, relationship management, conflict management, negotiation and resolution, change management, and stress management. In this paper, the author assesses leadership areas in which he considers himself highly competent in and those in which he would like to improve. He then discusses the roles that organizational leaders have played in influencing corporate culture, performance, and change.

Keywords: Leaders, managers, strategic planning, change management

Leaders and managers are different concerning their focus, perspectives, hopes, expectations, and inspirations (Ellis & Abbott, 2010). While leaders concentrate on doing the right things, managers concentrate on doing things right. Whereas leaders are determined to know 'what' and 'why' managers will be more interested in the ‘how’ aspect of things. Leaders inspire innovation whereas managers inspire stability. Many other differences exist. However, both leaders and managers have a degree of influence and say on what other people do (Ellis & Abbott, 2010). They, therefore, must have some leadership competencies to excel in their roles. SHRM (2008), defines leadership competencies as the skills and behaviors that contribute to a leader’s superior performance. Different direction and management positions require different skills. To be considered for any position, an individual needs to display a set of leadership skills needed whether in leading an organization, the self or others. This paper assesses leadership areas in which I consider highly competent in and those in which I would like to improve. This paper also explicate the roles that organizational leaders I know have played in influencing corporate culture, performance, and change.

Skills Areas in Which I am High Performing and Those in Which I Would like to Improve

As a manager in the healthcare sector, leadership competencies come well in handy. Excellence in leadership or management requires an individual to understand themselves as well as their teams’ abilities (Ellis & Abbott, 2010). In this regard, I believe I have a well-developed sense of self; I know which areas am capable of excelling in as a leader, and those on which I would like to improve.

High Performing Areas

One skill area in which I believe I am skilled and high-performing is change management. Though there is uncertainty in change, it is inevitable. As required of a good leader in healthcare, I have the ability to view change as an opportunity (Madden, 2013). I have mastered the ability to view times of uncertainty as openings to help me achieve my goals and those of the organization as a whole. Turning moments of uncertainty into opportunities can be risky. As a good leader, I am courageous enough to take risks as they are required. However, even in my willingness to try new things, I first evaluate the circumstances and come up with a clear plan of action to improve my chances of succeeding without endangering the organization goals.

I am also quite proficient in conflict management, negotiation, and resolution. Healthcare organizations are not new to conflict. Disputes can arise due to many reasons some of which include poor communication, interpersonal or intrapersonal conflict, and the organizational structure. Some of the tactics to employ to resolve conflict include avoidance, compromise, negotiation and collaboration (University Alliance, n.d.). In the light of a conflict, whether I am involved directly or not, I have the ability to analyze the situation and establish which strategy to employ. I recognize when to use avoidance, for example by walking away and assuming nothing happened. I also understand when to give in and when to stand my ground. I am similarly exquisite at negotiating which is essential in conflict resolution. It takes courage and consideration to let go of something to ultimately gain bigger ones.

Professionalism, ethics, passion, compassion, and integrity are also skills in which I believe I am quite competent. Leaders need to have objectives, standards, and behaviors that are respectful and not harmful to other people (Al-Sawai, 2013). I believe in doing what is right at all times and not only when others are watching. Leading in an ethical manner has a positive impact on the other members of staff as well.

Areas to Improve

Exceptional leaders acknowledge areas of weakness and I believe that to excel as a leader, there are various leadership skill areas in which I have to improve. For instance, I would like to improve my knowledge about recruiting, retaining, applying, compensating, and evaluating human resources. As a manager in a healthcare organization, I need to understand the human resource management function. Understanding the recruiting task will help me master the skills I need in attracting people to apply for positions within the organization. Retaining involves fostering employee relations so that they are satisfied with their jobs. Improving my knowledge on compensating will help in determining the monetary reward for the employees. Human resource evaluation involves assessing and reviewing of employees on a regular basis. If I can improve on these areas, I can manage to deal with all functions of human resources in the organization; then I will be able to maintain a healthy working atmosphere for everyone within the organization.

Another crucial skill area I would like to improve on is financial management and raising capital. Managers in the healthcare sector today need to think about the financial implications of their decisions in day to day activities within the organization (Gapenski, 2012). I lack experience in this area, and I would like to improve my knowledge since it will help me in making long-term financial decisions within the organization. I also believe improving my knowledge in financial management will give me a hand in acquiring, planning for and utilizing finances in the system in the most efficient manner. This experience will also give me the exposure to financial markets. I would like to acquire knowledge and skills in how financial markets operate and how they benefit healthcare organizations.

I would also want to improve my awareness of the health industry and how to respond to new developments. Change is inevitable in healthcare. Leaders and managers within the sector need to adapt to these changes as they come. In this regard, it is pertinent that all leaders have sufficient knowledge of the industry and familiarize with all developments as they come through (Madden, 2013). To improve my knowledge, I am willing to devote myself to seek out any opportunities to develop my leadership skills for example through reading and learning from other leaders. I am also ready to liaise with other leaders out of the healthcare industry.

Roles that Organizational Leaders have played in Influencing Organizational Culture

Organization culture refers to the beliefs and values that contribute to attitudes and behavior of people within an organization (Al-Sawai, 2013). The culture reflects in what the staff believes, and it emanates through the activities and actions of leaders and to what they pay attention. The allocation of resources, the rewards and punishments also determine organizational culture. Leaders and managers have a substantial influence on their teams and the organization as a whole. In changing the corporate culture, performance, and change, these leaders apply different management and leadership skills.

Leaders in healthcare today employ patient, family and community-centered techniques in their quest to improve the quality and safety of care in healthcare organizations (IPFCC, 2015). When leaders in healthcare, patients, their families and the community as a whole, work in tandem, this helps to improve the quality of health care. It also decreases care costs, and the satisfaction of all parties is almost guaranteed. Patient, family and community centered care ensures dignity and respect for patients, there is also complete and timely sharing of information such that all parties are involved. Consequently, there results in an organizational culture in which policies and programs developed are favorable for the community, the patients, their families and the leaders as well.

Good leaders and managers seek knowledge on how to improve care and administrative processes within the organization (IPFCC, 2015). Knowledge of the health industry and the ability to respond to new developments gives leaders the upper hand and capacity to use this knowledge for the benefit of the organization. For example, if doctors have knowledge of new treatments and facilities in which these treatments are available, then they can recommend patients within their care to places where they can receive these treatments. Again, these results in an organizational culture that ensures patient satisfaction

The style of leadership used can either have a positive or negative impact on the corporate culture. Effective leadership and management are pertinent to the achievement of the organization’s goals. Good leaders will inspire people to do what is right. They will coach, train and motivate their teams and as a result, have a positive impact on the morale and organization culture. Bad leadership, on the other hand, means there is a lack of inspiration, collaboration, and motivation. Employees will have low morale and high job and employee turnover. These factors impact negatively on the organizational culture. The staff and people within the organization will have little or no regard for their jobs. As a result, there is a depraved organization culture characterized by poor financial performance, lack of coordination, demotivated staff, and eventually, employees quit their jobs in search for jobs that provide better satisfaction. The ultimate consequences of good or bad leadership reflect on the company’s profitability.

A leader must also be competent in designing, structuring, prioritizing, and coordinating work to be done. These skills enable leaders and managers in the health care sector to know what to do, when to do it, who will do it and in which order the tasks should be executed. As a result, high-risk areas are given priority while allocating resources. As a result, there is

Effective leaders and managers seek to accomplish goals by working with a diversity of others. They are comfortable and encourage other people to work within diverse environments with people of different cultures, professional levels, sexual orientation, physical capabilities, and skills among others. As a result, there will be an all-inclusive organizational culture which creates, nurtures and supports diversity. Every person is comfortable to be themselves, for example, a book-club made of hospital staff regardless of their backgrounds including handymen, doctors, nurses and psychologists among others.

Effective leaders display professionalism, ethics, passion, compassion, and integrity. They believe in doing what is right at all times. In healthcare, managers and leaders will act in the best interest of patients, staff, and the larger society while still working within their professional codes of conduct and according to the moral expectations of the society. As a result, there is an organization culture where everyone is interested in doing what is right. Where leaders do not apply these principles, the team is tainted with corruption, and people are only interested in fostering their interests regardless of the means they use.

Communication, responsiveness, and trust-building is also an important skill among leaders. Where active communication channels get used, people will feel free to open up. When people open up, others respond and in this information sharing, there results in an organizational culture where people trust each other. Efficient leaders open up communication channels so people can work together to find solutions for their problems.

A good leader is capable of motivating, coaching, training, developing, supervising, and handling multiple simultaneous responsibilities. Good leaders take up a facilitation role than enforcing expecting their team to follow them without question. For example, a leadership style where the leader gives his team space to breathe usually results in staff who are willing to work even without direct supervision. These skills also help in project management within their organization.

Strategic planning is a technique employed by leaders in a changing environment. The skill involves prioritizing where the leaders and managers focus the organizational resources towards the achievement of common goals. Every person within the organization understands their target, and they work together towards these ends.

Relationship management and teamwork involve factors such as diversity training where people get sensitized towards different cultures present within the organization. Relationship management incorporates other skills such as analytical thinking and decision-making. People are trained to make decisions that are not only in their interest but the benefit of everyone within the organization. There is a culture where conflict and is minimized. Where a leader encourages teamwork, members of the team know how to handle conflict which arises within themselves. They know when to compromise, avoid or even when to negotiate. Leaders who have relationship management skills have teams which are united and these results in an organizational culture that have minimal conflict with everyone working towards common objectives. Where people are working together, they can manage to work through any crisis.

Effective leadership also involves competency in change management. The healthcare sector is always evolving, and efficient leadership reflects on teams where members are ready to embrace changes as they come. The organization culture is one in which members are willing to take risks, but they can distinguish between necessary and unnecessary risks.

Understanding financial management and ways of raising capital helps leaders to understand the economic implications of their decisions in day to day activities within the organization (Gapenski, 2012). The knowledge helps them in making long-term financial decisions within the organization. It also helps when acquiring, planning for and utilizing finances in the body in the most efficient manner.

Computer skills and information management is also crucial in today’s digital world. Information in the healthcare sector has gotten computerized, and consequently, there is less paperwork. Finding information is easier and time gets allocated to other needy functions within the organization. Excellent leadership reflects on a culture where people understand how to use digital resources that are present within the group.

Understanding of the recruiting, retaining, applying, compensating, and efficient evaluation of human resources techniques ensures organizational cultures in which the staff and other members of the organization are satisfied with their jobs. This has a positive impact on the system resulting in lower employee turnover and better financial performance among other advantages.

Finally, stress management is crucial since stress is inevitable in life. Leaders who can employ effective techniques to manage stress can have a positive impact on their organization culture. Staff and other team members will know how to deal with stress, and this will result in increased productivity which will reflect on the organizations’ financial performance.

In conclusion, effective leadership and management skills are important in any organization and especially within the healthcare sector. Good leadership will impact directly on all people involved, that is, the patients, their families, the community, the leaders and the organization as a whole. In a sector where people’s lives are at stakes, it is important to apply leadership competencies in the most effective way.