THE AUTHENTIC LEADER- WEEK 2 DISCUSSION
Great leaders are defined by thinking abilities and integrative thinking when faced with conflicting options. Integrative thinkers think of possibilities instead of choosing an alternative. Great leaders and integrative thinkers exploit their traits of opposing minds and opposing thumbs in developing the best solutions for challenges experienced in the company (Martin, 2007). Martin, (2007) stipulated that leaders should avoid leaning towards simplicity and certainty, to prevent disengaging the mind when faced with opposing ideas before it can seek a creative resolution.
A leader I am well conversant with is a clinical manager in the medical department. What has made him a successful leader is the application of fourteen principles of management by Henrifayol. This entails division of labor, authority, and responsibility, discipline, unity of direction and command, exercising equity, and Espint De Corps in ensuring the provision of quality services. Besides, he is equipped with managerial skills: Conceptual, human skills, Analytical, Relational, and Technical skills (CHART). He also exercises fairness and equity to all employees and occasionally appraises his workers. He has invested in evidence-based practices and research to ensure patient-centered care is provided. Having opposing minds also enabled him to balance his ideas. What makes him an effective leader based on leadership qualities are: approaches in decision making, collaborative leadership, accepting his weaknesses and improving them, implementing ideas based on integration and synthesis rather than choosing the best alternative.
Most of the time, we crave the certainty between a well-defined alternative and the closure coming with choosing a decision that has already been made. A leader should be an integrative thinker, incorporate the steps of decision making in reaching a conclusion, consider multidimensional relationships among variables, and choose less visible and potentially relevant factors (Maxwell, 2007). As a manager, I always strive to better patient outcomes by promoting the provision of quality and safe care. I accept full accountability for my actions and outcomes, exercise empathy, excellent communication skills, scientific problem solving, and always ready to listen to others. What I need to improve is on integrating ideas. I am one of those who choose the best alternative without considering future implications. Being an integrative and not conventional leader will help in coming up with a better option without necessarily making a choice.
References
Martin, R. L. (2007). Becoming an integrative thinker. Rotman Magazine, 4-9.
Martin_How Successful Leaders Think_2007.pdf Martin How Successful Leaders Think_2007.pdf – Alternative Formats (187.157 KB)
Maxwell, J. C. (2007). The 21 indispensable qualities of a leader: Becoming the person others will want to follow. HarperCollins Leadership.