Leadership Goals and Evidence-Based Practice

James Kent (2013) explained the entrepreneurial style of management described in Strategy Safari and related this management style to his own working situation as the CEO of a small community hospital. Kent made some valuable points about the entrepreneurial style, helping the reader understand this concept by using his own situation as an example to delineate the most salient concepts. There were two points that stood out in Kent’s discussion.

It seems in serving in the entrepreneurial role, Kent (2013) has a healthy attitude for helping a small hospital run and grow. Kent expressed he realizes he must have a holistic viewpoint when it comes to the function of the hospital and all of the roles it serves in the community and the various needs it fulfills: a place where the sick can get help and feel safe, as an employer to many members of the community, improving the health and well-being of the community, being a source of information and guidance, and being a source of expertise and to help patients throughout their lifespan, to name a few.

The second point that was interesting is the discussion of teamwork versus leadership. It is true that Kent (2013), in reflecting upon his leadership type, has followed a more entrepreneurial style, and makes a good point that the blending of two different managerial strategies seems wise for the future. Yet, is one style sufficient to meet the needs of an entire organization? Usually, the answer is no, and the blending of two or even three is more desirable than keeping to just one.

It seems like Kent’s (2013) leadership goals would fit well within an evidence-based approach to practice, as Poe and White (2010) described. The foundation of evidence-based practice describes a standardized process where a person in the department takes a leadership role to tackle a problem or issue, compiles a team to approach and research the issue, and change ways of practice to a new system, then monitor the new implementation, and improve in necessary. This approach would fit well within your organization, reduce the number of medical errors, inspire employees to take on a leadership role within their positions, and create a culture of leadership and consensus rather than a culture of followers. This description seems to match the vision you have for your organization.

References

Kent, J. (2013, November 10). Strategy schools of thought.

Poe, S. & White, K. M. (2010). Johns Hopkins Nursing evidence-based practice: Implementation and translation. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.