Leadership as a management competency in rural health organisations

Abstract

The management competency of leadership was measured on 34 middle and seniorhealth managers from the Murray Health Service, using Situational LeadershipQuestionnaires. Using self-analysis, the managers found their leadership behavioursto be entrenched, inflexible and less effective than they might otherwise be. Thisconclusion was supported by results of the questionnaires completed on each managerby their followers. In almost half of the cases, followers had a different perception oftheir manager?s leadership style than did the manager. This paper discusses thesefindings in the context of management assessment centres and the Charter for Changenow facing all health organisations.