Leadership Style
Studies have shown that healthcare team motivation strongly correlates with leadership style, recognition, workload balance, and communication culture.
Definition: Leadership style is the manner in which a leader guides, motivates, and interacts with their team. In healthcare, leadership style impacts team performance, culture, safety, and staff well-being.
Common Leadership Styles
| Style | Description |
|---|---|
| Transformational | Inspires and empowers team members, fostering innovation and growth. |
| Transactional | Focused on structure, rules, and rewards/penalties based on performance. |
| Autocratic | Leader makes decisions independently with limited team input. |
| Democratic leadership | Team input is valued; decisions are made collaboratively. |
| Laissez-faire | Minimal leadership involvement; team works independently. |
| Servant leadership | Leader prioritizes the needs and development of the team. |
Importance in Neurosurgery
- Influences communication culture and psychological safety.
- Shapes team motivation, engagement, and job satisfaction.
- Affects the effectiveness of teaching, supervision, and QI efforts.
Example
A democratic leader encourages residents and nurses to help define care protocols, resulting in high buy-in and collaborative innovation.