Question

How useful do you think leadership theories are to health managers? In what way might they support the actual practice of managing effectively in a health service setting? What might be required for that theory-practice gap to be overcome? Consider these questions drawing on your own readings and insights to date.

Answer 1

Answer: Leadership theories are the theories which focus on the types of leadership style. The leadership style includes an autocratic leadership style, democratic leadership style, laissez-faire leadership style, transformation, and transaction leadership style. The health manager can choose any leadership style and practice in maintaining the health worker in the hospital.

This will helps to improve the services provided by the health care workers, more control over the health workers, proper work distribution of activities, and decision making among the health worker. This will increase teamwork, complete the task on time, no conflicts among the staff due to the proper distribution of work. The democratic leadership style is the most effective way of leadership style. In this style, the manager listens to what the workers want and make the decision for the benefit of the worker as well as for the organization by a proper discussion with the manager and the workers. This provide a sense or good working environment, stress-free environment, and retention of staff are more.

To overcome theory-practice gap, the manager should understand properly the advantages and disadvantages of each leadership style. The style should be chosen base on the situation or organizational needs. So the manager should educate himself about the style and choose the perfect one. It is acceptable style in society to overcome the gap.