Task Oriented Leadership

682 Words2 Pages

Introduction As healthcare professionals in elderly care at home, we hold a unique position. We are not just practitioners, but also leaders in our own right. How we lead can significantly influence the interactions within our team, the quality of care provided to patients, and the overall efficiency of our work. In this reflective piece, I delve into the effectiveness and ethical considerations of two critical leadership styles- people-oriented and task-oriented- and their implications in our healthcare context, a topic of utmost relevance to us. Nevertheless, what do these leadership styles mean? People-oriented leadership, for instance, is all about the well-being and development of the team members, fostering a supportive and collaborative …show more content…

During these meetings, the staff members were urged to discuss their feelings, challenges, and recommendations for enhancing the work environment. The leader in question demonstrated a genuine concern for the team's well-being, fostering a supportive atmosphere that acknowledged the emotional strain of caregiving. This ethical approach placed the mental health of the staff at the forefront, which, in turn, positively impacted patient care. Such people-oriented conduct is apt and necessary, particularly in a high-stress field like elderly care, underscoring how compassionate leadership can augment team cohesion and morale (Organizational Behavior, 2017). Task-Oriented Leadership: A Professional Scenario A different leadership style was observed when a new manager took over to implement a more rigorous patient care protocol. The manager adopted a task-oriented approach, which involved defining roles, …show more content…

This method ensured that all team members were aware of their responsibilities and the expected standards of care. Although this task-oriented behavior improved patient care quality and efficiency, the team's input and resistance to sudden changes were initially overlooked. However, the manager recognized this shortcoming and adapted their approach to include more open discussions and feedback, blending task orientation with elements of people-oriented leadership. This adjustment was appropriate and ethical as it ensured that operational objectives were achieved without jeopardizing the team's morale (Organizational Behavior, 2017). Ethical Considerations and Leadership Balance In both scenarios, the ethicality of leadership behavior depends on the leader's ability to adapt and respond to the needs of their team while pursuing organizational goals. The people-oriented approach, which inherently values caregivers' emotional and psychological well-being, is ethical. On the other hand, the task-oriented approach, which initially overlooks the importance of team input, can become ethical once the leader incorporates feedback mechanisms and addresses the team's concerns to balance efficiency with empathy (Organizational Behavior, 2017). Conclusion The

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