Leadership Lessons

Abstract

Administration, managerial skills and leadership are different concepts. A good leader is multi-skilled and has leadership qualities and traits. It is not necessary for a great leader to have all the leadership traits; every great leader has a unique leadership style. A good leader understands the concept of motivation, keeps his/her people motivated and has a positive attitude towards them. Autocratic, directive, participative and democratic are the various leadership styles and no single leadership style is correct all the time and the leader needs to change and adopt the style to fit the situation. A healthcare facility is a complex organisation, and the physician and the administrator of a hospital have different perspectives. Leaders require managerial skills in the form of technical skills, human skills and conceptual skills. As the leader climbs up higher on the hierarchy ladder, his/her technical skills become proportionately less important and his/her human and conceptual skills become more important. This review article describes the various qualities, traits, styles of leadership and stresses upon the need of healthcare worker learning about hospital administration and leadership when appointed as an administrator in a healthcare facility.