Transactional Leadership In Healthcare

Leadership takes many forms in many settings and is vital to any healthcare profession, including recreational therapy. Whether it be with a client, with a community group, as a manger of a department, or otherwise, understanding the fundamentals of leadership, the various styles and techniques, and knowing how to apply them to each respective situation is a vital aspect of being a recreational therapist – hence why it is a required class for accreditation in our field. There are many different styles and schools of thought on leadership, specifically within healthcare or otherwise (Leadership Development, 2016). The most important aspect of leadership, in my opinion, is understanding a very broad range of the skills, styles, techniques, and

These individuals are usually considered the most desirable employees to have; those who exhibit the transformational leadership typically inspire through effective communication as well as by creating an environment that stimulates those around them intellectually. However, those who exhibit this style often become “blue-sky thinkers” and thus require their managers to be more detail-oriented to implement their plans. The next is Transactional leadership. Transactional leadership focuses on the organization of the group, working to establish a clear and concise chain of command and implementing a “carrot-and-stick” approach to management-related actions and activities. Transactional gets its name because leaders offer a system of exchange: they reward positive performances and punish the negative counter. While this can be an effective way of completing short-term tasks, subordinates are not likely to reach full creative potential. The third, and my personal favorite, is servant leadership. Those who employ servant leadership prefer models where power is shared compared to those of authority. They place the needs of their team above all else and encourage decisions be made by the collective as opposed to the

Workers typically report higher levels of job satisfaction in such environments, and the company often benefits from increased creativity. On the downside, the democratic process is slower and may not be practical in workplaces where fast decision-making is a necessity. The next leadership style is bureaucratic leadership. Bureaucratic leadership is normally used in highly regulated, administrative workplaces, where the rules are more strictly followed and a concrete hierarchy is vital. These leaders ensure people follow the rules and accomplish tasks “by the book.” Naturally, this works well in roles such as health and safety, but can also prevent innovation and creativity in more fast-paced companies. The eighth common style of leadership is charismatic leadership. There is some overlap between charismatic and transformational leadership. Both heavily rely on the positive charm and personality of the respective leader. However, charismatic leadership is typically considered less favorable because success is closely linked to the leader being present. While transformational leaders build confidence in a team that remains upon absence, the removal of a charismatic leader typically leaves the opposite effect. The ninth and final style of leadership is situational leadership. Developed by management experts Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard in 1969,