Leadership issues and challenges

Student`s Name Name of University Date Leadership Issues and Challenges Introduction There are many leadership issues and challenges that face leaders today. This is especially the case for people working in the health and medicine sector. Some of the challenges that face leaders in the healthcare sector include leadership gap and an aging population (Collins-Nakai, 2006). Leaders in the healthcare sector address these challenges in a number of ways. These include developing a leadership strategy that would address the leadership gap. A leadership strategy requires the adoption of the most appropriate leadership model. Several leadership models are at their disposal: servant leadership, situational leadership, spiritual leadership and competency-based leadership, among others. The Need for Servant Leadership In an organization facing a leadership gap and an aging population, servant leadership may provide a long-term panacea. The theory of servant leadership was Robert K. Greenleaf`s brain-child. The term servant leader is in itself oxymoronic because it has two contradictory words. However, it is possible for a servant to operate as a leader. According to Greenleaf (1996), servant leadership puts service to others above all else. Consequently, the leader becomes ready to serve others; hence, being a servant leader. In organizations with leadership gaps, especially the healthcare sector, servant leadership provides a long-term solution. This is because leadership gaps exist when there are few persons to take up leadership roles. Servant leadership can bridge the leadership gap by having everybody as a leader. This means that each medical personnel takes up a responsibility towards others and each other; thus, snuffing out the leadership gap. According to Greenleaf (1996), work exists because a person is there, and that the reverse is also true. Therefore, clinical practitioners have had to take up responsibility in order to bridge the leadership gap. One problem with the medical fraternity is that they do not undergo leadership training while studying medicine. Consequently, medical training institutions churn out medical professionals year after year, who are not prepared to take up leadership responsibilities. Suffice to say, there is nothing in a doctor`s or nurse`s training that prepares them for leadership roles. It is, therefore, important for medical practitioners to undergo training in leadership. Servant leadership provides a solution to this deficiency by allowing all members of the medical fraternity to render services to others. Servant leadership can also address the problem of an aging population. An aging population translates into increased demand for healthcare services. Aging population also reduces the ability to render services by healthcare personnel. Servant leadership can help solve this problem because it relies on the principle that since there is work, an individual has to attend to it. The Need for Situational Leadership The situational leadership holds that there is no one solution that can address all challenges. Therefore, each situation may require different levels of leadership and management; hence, the need for situational leadership. In an organization facing a leadership gap and an aging population, situational leadership may provide a solution. Situational leadership involves directing, coaching, supporting and delegating. Leaders, therefore, have to analyze the ability and willingness of people in determining the most appropriate style of leadership to put into operation. When the national coordinator for health IT,...