“Leadership for Healthcare” by John Benington and Jean Hartley was published by The Policy Press in the year 2010. In “Leadership for Healthcare”, Benington and Hartley Leadership model proposes a novel and coercive approach, with the aim of helping people gain an understanding of leadership as one of the major platforms for successful organizations. In this book, Benington and Hartley borrow heavily from existing literature in developing a six-part leadership design. In this design, Benington and Hartley offer valuable lessons based on the conclusion made from the wider leadership spectrum, and also seeks to enlighten the readers on possible ways in which leadership lessons gained can be applied in the healthcare setting. Benington and Hartley’s six-sided leadership design is a deviation from the traditional approach to leadership which is individual based. Benington and Hartley leadership design proposes that successful leadership is best understood in a set of composited practices carried out by many, and unusually differently gifted individuals within a firm. Furthermore, other than the six major components of successful leadership, organizational cultures as well as situational contexts also play vital roles in determining effective leadership in healthcare organizations.
As explained earlier, Benington and Hartley have developed a six-part healthcare leadership model. Leadership within the healthcare sector can be achieved using two major methods, namely formal and informal training of healthcare personnel. Professions within the healthcare sector such as clinicians, physicians and others need to develop different skills to assume positions of leadership. For instance, nurses need to develop leadership skills which will enable them to move from being nurses to leaders. To acquire these skills, clinicians have to undergo both formal and informal training. However, Benington and Hartley argue that this kind of leadership training is impossible if there is no explicit leadership model in place. The six-part leadership model is therefore aimed at facilitating the training of healthcare professionals to acquire leadership skills which will aid them in understating and appreciating the challenges of healthcare leadership. Thus Benington and Hartley’s model is key towards leadership development in the healthcare sector.
Benington and Hartley’s identify the six major components of leadership design as: leadership characteristics, conceptualization of leadership, contexts, challenges, abilities and capabilities and finally the effects of leadership. Conceptualization of leadership determines the development of leadership programs. To be realistic leadership development needs to be context based as it will help in understanding the present context realities. Furthermore, contextualization of leadership development programs enables the understanding of both present and future leadership challenges, thus enabling leaders in the healthcare sector to prepare. It is important to understand the capabilities of individual healthcare professionals so as to place them in relevant professional areas where their skills are suited. Understanding the basic characteristics of leadership such as formal and informal leadership, democracy, teamwork and others is vital in contextualizing and conceptualization of leadership. Finally, Benington and Hartley’s create a link between leadership and the performance of an organization by evaluating the extent at which leadership affects values, performances and outcomes within the organization. The six major traits are discussed Vis a Vis the integration of transformational and transactional leadership style. While Benington and Hartley explicitly describe the integration of transactional and transformational leadership in their leadership model, they also downplay the roles of innate individual capabilities and skills, which are still vital in effective leadership.
Benington and Hartley’s model was developed with the intent of application in the health care sector in general. Thus it is applicable to many healthcare professionals, especially those who want to develop leadership skills with the intention of assuming leadership positions within the healthcare sector. The aforesaid leadership development techniques will influence my career as an upcoming leader in a number of ways. Leadership has certain characteristics such as sources of power and a chain of command. Thus it is imperative for leaders in the healthcare sector to understand their leadership position, and the progressive authority within the chain of command. This will enable one to handle and delegate challenges to the relevant authorities. Furthermore, contextualizing and conceptualization leadership will enable one to understand the prevailing conditions such as policies and professional ethics and how they change with time such as policy changes on patient rights regarding the type of health care they desire to receive and how best it should be administered to them. While Benington and Hartley’ down play the role of personal traits. Certain traits such as emotional intelligence are vital for transformational and transactional leadership within the healthcare sector. Benington and Hartley’s model is based on practices which involve many individuals. As such it is very important in improving teamwork within a healthcare organization.
“Leadership for Healthcare” is a very rich resource for healthcare professionals who want to assume leadership positions within the industry. This is because it borrows heavily from preexisting literature on leadership. Reliance on previous works enables Benington and Hartley develop a novel leadership development model which readily helps healthcare professionals transform into leaders. It is therefore highly recommended for leadership training in the healthcare sector.
Reference
Benington, J. and Hartley, J. (2010). Leadership for healthcare. Bristol: Policy Press.