Leadership in Health and Medicine

Leadership is defined as a skill, composed of a series of appealing qualities, which permits a person to establish productive relationships with others, affording opportunities to influence them in a manner to achieve goals and objectives. It is multifaceted, characterized by attributes such as vision, charisma, honesty, intelligence, and ambition which are attractive to others, compelling them to become followers. As leaders are able to influence their followers to embrace particular directives as their own, collaborative, inspired, and voluntary pursuits are possible. As such, when applied in healthcare settings, excellent leadership supports concerted efforts to fulfill designated missions, making associated acumen essential for those serving in managerial roles in health and medicine. Indeed, in the highly competitive, ever-changing healthcare industry, management prowess alone is insufficient; it must be complemented by leadership skills and abilities which amplify efforts and outcomes. By directing devoted attention toward leadership, health and medical providers set the stage for operational excellence, ultimately hastening mission fulfillment. This chapter introduces and explains the important concept of leadership and its use in healthcare organizations, aiding readers in acquiring associated knowledge.