Writing: Changes

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: LEADERSHIP IN LONG-TERM CARE

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

Introduction - ONE of the most important building blocks in the foundation of successful long-term care delivery.

Leadership - the art of getting others to want to do something that you are convinced should be done.

Leaders: Who are they? There are several myths about leaders, including:

· Are leaders born - it is a set of skills that can be learned by nearly anyone.

· Leaders are prescient visionaries – They cannot predict the future, but are prepared to deal with it.

· Leaders are charismatic, possess a special gift – they have charm and appeal that arouse loyalty, but, it is not something special that only a few have.

· Leadership is associated with a superior position – not all managers are leaders.

· Leadership is a matter of control – leaders enable rather than controlling.

· Leaders are remote and distant – they are seen as approachable by their followers.

Common Characteristics of Leaders

· Honest – sincere, genuine.

· Forward-Looking - have a sense of direction and a concern for the future of the organization.

· Inspiring – make followers believe they can do things they had previously thought they could not.

· Competent - competent in their professions and in management.

Leadership Skills – there are several skills necessary to successful leadership in long-term care management.

Influencing Others:

· Skill: Managing Power/Influence – understanding kinds of power and how to use it.

· Position Power – power one has because of the position held.

· Coercive Power 

· Reward Power 

· Legitimate Power 

· Connection Power 

· Personal Power – power that comes from one’s own personality and experience.

· Expert Power 

· Information Power 

· Referent Power 

· Skill: Motivation – understanding what motivates each person and how to use it.

· Skill: Communication – knowing how to make others understand what the leader wants.

Providing Direction:

· Skill: Strategic Thinking – being able to see the big picture.

· Skill: Planning – a formal process of organizational planning.

· Skill: Managing Change – recognizing change and using it proactively.

· Skill: Decision-Making – having the courage to make decisions.

Getting Voluntary Acceptance:

· Skill: Enabling - facilitating subordinate performance.

· Skill: Providing Feedback – letting subordinates know how they are doing, and how to improve.

· Skill: Problem-Solving - recognizing problems, collecting information and making decisions.

· Skill: Conflict Resolution – understanding and dealing with two or more divergent interests.

· Skill: Negotiation – creating win-win situations.

· Skill: Mentoring – coaching and developing others.

· Skill: Team-Building – creating working teams out of groups of individuals.

· Skill: Managing Stress – understanding the causes of stress in the leader and subordinates and managing it.

Gaining & Improving Leadership Skills – ways to acquire or improve leadership skills.

· Recognize the Need for Improvement – improvement cannot take plce without recognition of the need for it.

· Assess Current Skills – involves self-analysis and use of formal analysis tools.