How would you describe the cycle of leadership and identify knowledge, skills and abilities at each stage of the cycle that contribute to understanding health leadership development? How do you learn the ropes' in a health organization?
The cycle of leadership is manifested as analogous to the crawl, walk, and run stages that traditional personal stages of growth and development undertakes. Within the crawl stage for instance leaders begin to explore new applications and rely on stock knowledge, basic leadership skills, and emerging abilities to influence and lead others. During the walk stage, leaders begin to assume greater confidence in applications of theories, and become independent in using skills that have been appropriately honed through work experiences. Finally, the run stage exhibits proactive growth and decisions to explore, venture, and capture other opportunities which would further professional growth in the facet of health leadership development. Leaders therefore learn the ropes in a health organization through immersion, direct involvement and experience, identification of strengths and weaknesses, and being open for future opportunities for professional growth through mentorship, training, and continuous learning.
Response to Post 1:
One shares similar convictions in terms of seeing the cycle of leadership as manifesting synonymous principles with the cognitive development of infants. It was commendable to have clearly presented the points of similarities which assisted readers in appreciating greater understanding of the leadership cycle through vivid examples and explanations.
Response to Post 2:
The initial analogy of the crawl stage that reflects learning to manage ourselves was most applicable. Just like the infancy stage in child development, the crawl stage focuses on the infant’s skills and abilities to use motor skills through the guidance of parents. As such, leaders are also guided in the initial stages of work experiences and learn to expand their application of knowledge through regular interaction with people. As such, the whole cycle could actually take years of experience and opportunities for continued learning and development.
