Answer :

Subject Code and Title PUBH6004: Leadership and Effecting Change in Public Health

Assessment 2: Report – Public Health Professionals

Part 1: Analysis of the public health leader using Australian Health Leadership Framework

One of the largest and important commerce of Australia is the Health Leadership Framework, which affects each and every person in the country. It is of prime importance to understand the change management and the importance of leadership to improve the effectiveness of the health care industry of the country. 

The Australian Health Leadership Framework

The health care industry of the country requires leadership to maintain the quality of treatment and provide improved services to the patients.

Principles

The Health Leadership Framework provides a guiding principle for the health care industry of the country. The main guiding principles are:

Developing Efficient Leaders: The development of the professionals engaged in work is must for the organisational as well as the personal development of the individual and the business along with it. The existence of efficient leaders at every junction of the process enhances the engagement of the process with the patients and helps in providing better service. The leadership qualities including the courage, passion and capabilities as per the industry standard are needed for the future improvement of the health care system of Australia(Youtube, 2019). Joyce Lashof has exhibited initiative to develop leaders in the health care industry by imparting the knowledge to other employees who could become leaders of the future.

Personal Leadership Requirements: The personal qualities of the professional also affect the quality of the service of the health care industry. So, the personal qualities must also be cultivated in the leaders so that they are capable of performing the duties of the organisation and dispense their duties efficiently (Cohen & Marshall, 2017). The qualities expected in a leader are management capabilities, care for the patient etc. which plays a pivotal role in the development of the system. Joyce Lashof possesses problem-solving skills and has the ability to encourage and motivate colleagues in performing better.

Appropriate Leadership: The development of the leadership of the being skilled and knowledgeable is necessary to reinforce the process, and they would become an efficient leader in the framework of the organisation. The appropriate leader drives the health care industry of Australia. Since most of the leadership capabilities are existent in Joyce Lashof, he can be called an appropriate leader. Although there are areas of improvement, the present attributes make him a competent leader.

Challenges

The main challenges which are faced by Joyce Lashof are:

• Inability to provide safe and standard facilities to all the facets of treatment facilities
• Incorporating the aboriginal people in the Health Leadership Framework
• Inability to implement basic and necessary primary health care facilities to all
• Non-cooperation of the hierarchical authority due to the differentiated approaches of the health care industry

Goals of Leadership Framework

The leaders of the health care industry are responsible for the quality of the services provided to the patients. Thus, the leadership framework provides a guide for the development of the leaders. It also helps in creating a uniform base for the growth and nurture of the leader in order to improve the health services of the health care sector. The primary goals of the Leadership Framework are:

• Provide evidence to align the health care services with the workplace culture to satisfy the consumers
• Implementing the primary health care services to every people of the country
• Provide better alternatives to the existing service standards and evolve the best patient care
• Development of competent leaders and attrition of the leadership qualities

The focus of Health Leads

The primary focus for the health care industry of the Health Leads Australia can be explained in the five basic areas, which are as follows:

Figure 1: Health Leads Leadership framework

Source: (Aims, 2019)

Achieve Outcomes: The leaders of the health care services of Australia play the most important role in improving the qualities of the clinical diagnosis and treatment. So, it is the responsibility of the leader to achieve the desired outcomes of the organisation in order for the directional approach, which has been adopted by it (Laycock et al. 2016). Thus, it is the responsibility of the leader to inspire the employees and also to observe the extent of the operations. They also need to make the required recommendation to keep the direction always focused on achieving the outcome. Joyce Lashof has put special attention to the results of the organisation and has worked to achieve them in the path of least resistance. 

Shape Systems: The health care system is very complex and thus requires an operational framework for operation directions and to reap the maximum benefits from it by aligning it with the aims and objectives. Thus the leaders are responsible for aligning the processes of the health care system as it is a complex system which is interconnected and any potential changes in any one of the systems has a profound impact on the other (Lai et al. 2018). These repercussions must be adjusted, and the leaders do that. This is how the shape of the system is changed and influenced by the leaders. Since the knowledge of Joyce Lashof is preparing employees to become future leaders; the shape of the system is definitely influenced by him.

Drives Innovation: The leaders of the industry are also responsible for the innovative changes being integrated into the health care industry, and so the leaders are responsible for the acceptability of the changes and the changes are also popularised by the leaders of the industry. So, the passion of the leaders is required for the changes to become effective in the organisational structure of the company (Pinto & Bloch, 2017). The modern methods of treatment and task completion is being efficiently used by Joyce Lashof, whereby the innovativeness of the organisation is also increasing. Thus, the leader drives innovation as the decision of the undertaking is provided by him. 

Engage Others: It is the responsibility of the leaders to encourage and interest others for the development of the organisation. The motivation of others is also needed to engage the employees with the aims and objectives of the company (Pandora Archive, 2019). The leaders are therefore responsible for connecting the organisational goals to the employees, which will increase the efficiency of operation and result in a vested betterment of the quality of the services provided to the prospective patients. Joyce Lashof encourages and motivates employees into developing their personal abilities and so engages with them to imbue commitment for the organisation. 

Leads Self: The personal attributes of the leaders are also equally important for the development of the organisation. A leader must be exemplary in their personal conduction and thus need to implement control and self-regulation in order for the employees to emulate and become effective leaders (Fisher et al. 2016). It must also be stated that leadership qualities must always evolve and is a continuous process. Joyce Lashof conducts himself with confidence and honesty, which is exemplary, and so he conducts himself and leads him with conviction. 

Part 2: Undertake a self-assessment using the Leadership self-assessment tool

The self-assessment is very important for the leader to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the professional. The strengths and weaknesses would enable the leader to assess and determine the areas that require improvement. The test which has been taken reveals that I have strong personal qualities. 

Figure 2: Demonstrating Personal Qualities

Source: (Leadershipacademy, 2019)

I reflect on my own personal qualities for improving them and receive feedback from others to change my personal attributes accordingly. The result shows that I have the resilience of character and operate with confidence in my work, which is beneficial in a pressure situation at work. I am also very honest about my opinion and also respect the views of others and listen to them attentively.

Figure 3: Working with others

Source: (Leadershipacademy, 2019)

I am also a great team worker who is needed for a professional working in a collective team. I am a valued team member and maintain a professional relationship with my peers. My communication skill is also very high as I am able to express my opinion clearly to others and instruct them about the work. The test has also revealed that I possess several weaknesses. It is important for the leader to identify the weaknesses so that the required work can be done to strengthen the deficiencies. The test showed I do not like to confront people who are a weakness.

Figure 4: Managing Services 

Source: (Leadershipacademy, 2019)

I also possess extraordinary management capabilities, which equip me to analyse the feedback from my colleagues. I always obey safe practices while at work and support the team members to develop their roles and responsibilities. I consult with colleagues for developing plans and allocate clear instruction regarding the work.

Figure 5: Improving services 

Source: (Leadershipacademy, 2019)

I take immediate action when there is any lapse in the service standard and keep a keen eye on the improvements in the quality of service. I also have a very keen idea of deliberation for the adoption of the newer means of operation so that the members of the team are in agreement. I have a knack for identifying the need for change and take evolving steps based on the feedback from colleagues and patients. I sometimes research the background for the basis of change and also to identify the criteria of change.

Figure 6: Setting Direction

Source: (Leadershipacademy, 2019)

I possess the necessary skills to identify change management when required, which leads to the development of the organisation. I use my knowledge for using the best practice at work and make decisions based on consultation with my peers. I also evaluate the change have on the employees as well as the patients.

Figure 7: Creating the vision

Source: (Leadershipacademy, 2019)

I constantly exchange information with others in order to involve them in the decision-making process and always being in the search for improvement opportunities and actively influence policymakers. Although I do not wait for support for my vision and am full of commitment and passion for my work. I challenge employees if their attitudes and behaviours are not in accordance with the vision of the company.

Figure 8: Delivering the strategy

Source: (Leadershipacademy, 2019)

I develop the strategies for the employees to follow after consideration of their opinions and implement them ruthlessly in all spheres of the work environment. I help the workers who need to grow and develop to assimilate with the strategy of the organisation.

Part 3: Reflection on leadership style

I think the leadership style is apt for the current scenario of the health care industry of Australia. Since the leadership style is inclusive of all the main attributes expected in a leader, the leadership style would provide effective benefits to the framework. Though, democratic style of leadership followed is beneficial but may prove detrimental for changing the organisational framework for which the transformational style of leadership is better suited.

Strengths: Since I have a good team working ability, I would be able to function in a team environment, and my communication skill would help me to instruct others to work accordingly. I also have extraordinary management skills which would equip me to manage the tasks in time and in the expected standard. I would have reacted sufficiently to the situation. I have a good problem-solving skill which would have equipped me to handle the uncertainties of work and deliver the responsibilities without any problem. I have good planning capabilities which would benefit me in the allocation of the work to the respective professionals. The planning of the work will also let me finish my work in time, which is necessary for a time mandated work sphere. 

Weaknesses: I need to develop my conflict resolving capacity. As a leader, I must be able to resolve problems at work and so must face problems and conflicts to solve them. I also must put efforts on building support for my vision, which would be required to implement new strategies, and the success of the strategies are critical of the participation of the employees. One weakness which the test had revealed is that I must take action whenever the resources which have been allocated for a particular purpose is not used properly. This is also a responsibility of a leader as the efficiency of the organisation, and the output of the company is affected by the misuse of the resources which must be minimised. 

The gaps of my leadership qualities are due to the weaknesses I have, which can be improved and mitigated with a proper development plan and developed over a period of time. However, I would have responded appropriately to the best of my ability. The strengths would have provided me with the necessary skills for delivering my duties, and the weaknesses would have left deficiencies which should be improved in time to operate as an efficient leader. 

Development Plan

Table: Action Plan