Developing the Characteristics of a Leader

In the Careers unit, we discussed some of the characteristics of a leader as a healthcare professional including professional presentation, roles and responsibilities, and developing a career plan. But what are the CHARACTERISTICS of a leader and how does development begin?

Quote from Aristotle stating excellence is never an accident...choice, not chance, determines your destiny.

Forbes Magazine identifies qualities such as honesty, delegation, communication, confidence, and a sense of humor as part of what it takes to become a great leader. Leadership for Dummies focuses on responsibilities, fostering cooperation, planning, and listening as four of the five characteristics listed. For the purpose of this course, we will focus on Motivation, Excellence, and Professional Development.

Motivation

Leaders possess intrinsic motivation. This is the person that doesn't need a reward but simply has the desire for things to be done in a timely manner. You may refer to this person as self-motivated or a self-starter. This quality is often accompanied by a keen assessment skill and the ability to recognize the need for change. Motivated leaders

organize group activities
develop plans/strategies/goals
set priorities
communicate with the team membership
provide ongoing assessment/feedback on the team's progress
promote teamwork EXCELLENCE

Excellence

Excellence, the quality of being outstanding or extremely good, defines the total quality of the patient care experience. Considering motivational leadership, as described, can a leader complete a TEAM activity alone? Of course not; it is the responsibility of the leader to provide an environment that cultivates excellence for both individual team members and the team as a whole.

Let's take a look at how excellence is cultivated.

Professional Development

You may be asking, how do I develop the confidence and the skills required to be a leader? Guess what, you have already started! Leadership excellence is a journey through professional development. Professional development is career-related education that furthers individual development as a health care professional. Photo of a team meeting with eight people around a table. You developed a career plan in the Careers unit and professional development substantiates your motivation and preparation for your career specialty.

Professional growth in health science specialties is an ongoing requirement. Research findings, technology, and patient demand influence the standards of care and the latest developments in healthcare delivery. Healthcare professionals are ethically responsible for staying abreast of the most recent science and service standards for the best quality care.

This course is considered a form of professional development. Other professional development avenues include:

Health Science Organizations
Health Science Journals
Health Science Internships/Mentorship opportunities

You are encouraged to identify professional development opportunities that will move you closer to your career goals. Think about family and friends that work in a profession that you are curious about. Don't be afraid to ask about professional shadowing opportunities so you can see what a workday looks like for that profession.

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