Leadership in healthcare is essential to the success of the healthcare system, team environments and improving patient outcomes. Whether you work as a primary care provider, private practice clinician or in a non-clinical healthcare role, adopting the right leadership style to suit your setting and desired results is crucial.
As a leader in the healthcare industry, understanding and developing your leadership style can help you to thrive over the course of your career. Depending on the roles you pursue, you may find that different leadership styles apply to different settings. This article explores the benefits of effective leadership in healthcare and details 11 healthcare leadership styles and what each looks like in a healthcare setting. You’ll also learn how postgraduate study can help hone your leadership abilities, giving you an advantage as a leader in your healthcare career.
Expert perspectives: why leadership is important in healthcare
Registered nurses Madeline Kessler and Michelle Deroubaix have decades of combined experience in clinical, non-clinical and educational nursing roles. They’ve worked in various settings under a variety of managers and also have their own leadership experience to draw from to provide valuable insights on leadership in healthcare. They share their perspectives on what makes a good leader, the benefits of good leadership in the healthcare industry and how they’ve honed their own leadership styles over the course of their careers.
What is leadership and what makes a good leader?
Considering their own careers and knowledge of nurse leadership, Madeline and Michelle reflect on what characterises good leadership in the broader healthcare context.
Support, accountability and being a team player are some of the themes that arise when discussing what makes a good healthcare leader. Having someone responsible who can admit to their mistakes, receive feedback and act accordingly to improve things is also an important quality of healthcare leaders.
On the flip side of good leadership is bad leadership. Madeline states that leaders who are abusive, aggressive and belittling are clear indicators of poor leadership. She emphasises that bad leadership can invariably result in staff attrition, which is not ideal for the already understaffed healthcare workforce.
Impact on patient care
Good leaders understand the downstream impacts of their role in terms of positive health outcomes for patients. Implementing evidence-based practices, supporting their team and providing opportunities for professional growth all enhance high quality patient care.
Benefit to team dynamics
A good leader can promote team dynamics by fostering trust, clear communication and a collaborative, mutual respect among team members. When a leader engages with team members, actively listens to their concerns and encourages the sharing of ideas, teams feel valued and empowered. This improves clinical decision-making, reduces the risk of burnout and promotes greater job satisfaction.
A unified team with good leadership is also better equipped to manage challenges as they arise. When people work together they can problem-solve more effectively, which is useful when it comes to adopting new protocols that require additional training or navigating staff shortages with minimal notice. Teams that put their efforts toward a common purpose with the guidance of an effective leader are more cohesive, resilient and efficient.
Finding your leadership style in healthcare
Are you born a leader or can you learn to lead?
Some people may feel they are natural-born leaders. They may innately exhibit traits such as confidence, charm and enjoy taking charge. Others may feel they need to strengthen their leadership skills if they tend to be the quiet-achiever type – someone with a strong work-ethic but perhaps more introverted or gentle in demeanour.
No matter your personality type, there are always ways to refine your style and improve your leadership skills over the course of your career. In fact, research shows that leaders can be made by cultivating leadership skills in the form of training, hard work and practical experience. It’s also an important part of your professional growth, especially in healthcare.
11 effective healthcare leadership styles
There are many different types of leadership styles in healthcare and related health leadership qualities that are important to health professionals.
1. Transformational leadership
What is transformational leadership?
Transformational leaders inspire innovation and change, unifying their teams toward a collective goal. This style of leadership is characterised by guidance, encouragement and teamwork where the leader’s overarching mission and vision ignites team members to give their best, work responsibly and with a sense of purpose to achieve their goals.
It has elements of a coaching and charismatic style of leadership, relying heavily on the leader’s ability to persuade and motivate their team into a joint mission and to begin to take action toward the leader’s idealised goals. Transformational leaders are visionary in nature, aiming to lead by example, while cultivating relationships with their team members, helping shift their mindset to ensure they are aligned on the same path.
How is transformational leadership used in healthcare?
Transformational leadership has been praised as the most effective style of leadership in healthcare when it comes to prioritising quality of patient care. Leaders who adopt a transformational style inspire their teams with a clear, positive vision and are skilled at navigating systemic challenges that impact workplace operations.
For example, a hospital director introducing a new digital health record system may take a transformational approach by actively involving team members in the implementation process. They will ensure the team understands how these new systems will improve patient care and deliver training where needed. Transformational leadership in healthcare aims to foster trust, educate and navigate new horizons confidently.
What qualities does a transformational leader possess?
A transformational leader uplifts teams through a compelling vision with a focus on novel ideas and mutual objectives.
- Transformational leaders are:
- Purpose-led
- Conscientious
- Change-makers
- Dynamic
- Emotionally intelligent
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2. Servant leadership
What is servant leadership?
Servant leadership values the needs of the team and employees by fostering a sense of fulfilment and purpose in the workplace. This leadership style is similar to affiliative leadership, insofar as it places immense importance on the happiness of team members ahead of the greater organisational goals. Servant leaders believe that when people are satisfied at work, they are more competent and productive.
At the core of many of the previously human-centred leadership styles in healthcare, such as affiliative, coaching and democratic styles are the elements of connection, collaboration and a prioritisation of professional growth. Servant leaders also encapsulate these components as well as creating an environment where people want to give their best, now and in a long-term committed capacity. Servant leaders help people see how they can truly make a difference in their own team, the workplace and beyond.
How is servant leadership used in healthcare?
In healthcare settings, servant leadership works well, as for many healthcare professionals, their work is centred around serving the needs of their patients and clients. It is a relational rather than an operational approach to leadership that focuses on serving the highest needs of others to help them achieve their goals. Servant leaders aim to develop a deep ethical framework, engage in reflection and weave their insights into their role.
For example, a public health educator spearheading a program to educate schools on healthy eating in an effort to address childhood obesity may adopt a servant leadership approach. They would engage with the school community and foster relationships to better understand barriers to healthy eating and encourage active input on ways to overcome them. Here, they’ve co-developed an appropriate plan by listening to the specific needs of those they serve and encouraging their participation to create a healthier culture within the school community.
What qualities does a servant leader possess?
A servant leader prioritises team wellbeing over status and provides the skills and feedback people need for their own self-development.
Servant leaders are:
- Ethical
- Active listeners
- Kind
- Community-focused
- Persuasive
3. Affiliative leadership
What is affiliative leadership?
This leadership style encompasses the ethos of ‘people-first’. Affiliative leadership emphasises emotional wellbeing and relationship-building to optimise the effectiveness of everyone in the workplace environment. It is related to the psychological notion of ‘affiliative behaviour’ which as a leadership style, capitalises on the natural human tendency to form supportive relationships with others who are equally aligned in a shared mission.
Affiliative leaders have strong conflict resolution skills and can guide teams through challenges and difficult times. These leaders are proactive in giving constructive feedback, celebrating good work and boosting morale where needed. This supportive environment fosters trust, promotes greater productivity and cohesion and is an essential foundation for positive workplace culture in healthcare.
How is affiliative leadership used in healthcare?
Affiliative leadership is less about performance goals or other metrics and instead invests heavily in employee satisfaction and maintaining morale. In healthcare settings, this style of leadership is useful in times of management changes, staff shortages, acute emergency situations with patients or other unexpected events in the workplace.
For example, a nurse unit manager leading staff in a busy maternity ward with a nursing shortage would likely be aware of the added pressure on existing staff to perform their expected tasks, providing nursing care to new mothers. As an affiliative leader, they would prioritise the nursing staff’s emotional wellbeing by checking in with them, encouraging open communication and finding ways to ensure to mitigate nurse burnout.
What qualities does an affiliative leader possess?
An affiliative leader is characterised by their emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills and prioritisation of workplace harmony.
Affiliative leaders are:
- Communicative
- Empathetic
- Negotiative
- Encouraging
- Team-oriented
4. Democratic leadership
What is democratic leadership?
According to the International Journal of Leadership Studies, the integral characteristic of democratic leadership is participation that is friendly, helpful and encouraging. Democratic leadership can strengthen productivity, job satisfaction and commitment.
Due to the inherent quality of participation, democratic leaders endorse a bi-directional approach to meeting goals. Leaders can proactively engage in group discussions with their team, encourage their input and show support for interesting or novel ideas. This style helps cultivate psychological safety, where people feel welcome to consider innovative solutions to challenges and explore their creative potential.
How is democratic leadership used in healthcare?
With an emphasis on collaboration and shared decision-making, democratic leadership can apply widely in healthcare. The nature of this style encourages staff input and when people feel seen, heard and safe to express their ideas, it strengthens the connections to their work resulting in greater job satisfaction. This can have on-flow effects on team dynamics and promotes higher quality patient-centred care.
For example, democratic leadership is demonstrated in community health or social work sectors, where co-design frameworks are used to improve healthcare delivery for families and vulnerable members of society. A leader in these settings would use a democratic approach that involves a ‘round-table’ of social workers, parents, families and external stakeholders to devise effective family support programs based on feedback and insights from all parties directly impacted.
What qualities does a democratic leader possess?
A democratic leader highly regards team input, participation and a holistic approach as a strategy for success.
Democratic leaders are:
- Fair
- Collaborative
- Inclusive
- Receptive
- Non-judgemental
5. Situational leadership
What is situational leadership?
This malleable leadership style emphasises adaptability in order to meet the needs of the team and environment. Leaders who adopt this approach can draw from many styles, such as coaching, autocratic or delegative after assessing what would be a ‘best fit’ depending on the situation and context at hand. This means that leaders can choose how to respond to the evolving and sometimes complex needs of people and the organisation.
Adopting this leadership style means leaders need to be ready to act, be cooperative and willing to give and receive feedback to ensure their leadership is effective to meet shared goals. It also means that leaders must rely on their team’s skills, expertise and ability to also be flexible with receiving the necessary leadership for the given situation. A tailored leadership style using situational leadership can ensure the appropriate guidance is delivered to suit each team member’s competence and commitment level.
How is situational leadership used in healthcare?
The ever changing needs of many healthcare work environments make situational leadership a valuable option for leaders to consider. This would be particularly relevant in primary care and social work settings, where there are many variable and logistical needs that change throughout the course of each day. Leadership in these environments calls for a responsive and nuanced leadership style that can evolve to meet the needs of staff and to ensure optimal patient or client care.
For example, a nurse unit manager overseeing a team in a hospital surgical ward would use situational leadership to successfully manage and coordinate a diverse group of staff with varying degrees of experience and skills. A graduate nurse may benefit from more direction and monitoring with an authoritative leadership style. Whereas the nurse unit manager may take a more delegative leadership style with a senior registered nurse, feeling confident that they need less interference and direct supervision to perform their role.
What qualities does a situational leader possess?
A situational leader understands the importance of matching their leadership style with the capacity of their team and contextual needs.
Situational leaders are:
- Adaptable
- Resourceful
- Strategic
- Context-aware
- Multidisciplinary
6. Coaching leadership
What is coaching leadership?
This leadership style is one that highlights the value of investing in team members, where the leader supports their personal and professional growth. A coaching leadership style is motivational and gives regular feedback to help employees refine their talents to achieve their own and broader organisational goals.
Coaching leadership is a style that helps people see their inherent strengths and the value they bring to the team. It suits environments that want to develop a ‘long-game’ approach which emphasises investing in the people that are doing the work. In this way, team members are encouraged to enhance their expertise with training and skill development, all while benefiting from mentorship within a coaching leadership style.
How is coaching leadership used in healthcare?
As mentioned, skill development is a core feature of this leadership style. This aligns well with the healthcare sector, where continuous learning is essential for professional growth and competency. Healthcare workers with a leader who has adopted a coaching style can expect to feel supported in their role as well as their future potential and career path. This can result in better retention, performance and job satisfaction.
For example, a nurse leader in a major hospital may use a coaching leadership style to mentor graduate nurses. Here, they can impart their experience and wisdom from their years working in various nursing roles. Offering support with goal-setting and encouraging the pursuit of postgraduate study are all strategies that a coaching-style leader may adopt to get the most out of their nursing staff.
What qualities does a coaching leader possess?
A coaching leader is empowering with a willingness to share their knowledge. They actively encourage self-responsibility, skill development and individual growth endeavours.
Coaching leaders are:
- Goal-oriented
- Understanding
- Committed
- Growth-minded
- Inspirational
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7. Visionary leadership
What is visionary leadership?
Visionary leadership is about inspiring and motivating teams to achieve long-term success. These leaders have a unique ability to see what’s ahead and have a deep understanding of the landscape of their specific field. Visionary leaders can therefore anticipate challenges and seek out progressive opportunities in their industry. They can communicate their ideas clearly, making sure everyone is on the same page and working toward the same unified goals.
They also show empathy and know how to connect with diverse teams, building trust and fostering collaboration. Visionary leaders encourage the sharing of novel ideas, prioritise continuous improvement and value their team for their input. Once a visionary leader galvanises their team, they apply strategic thinking to create and implement a plan to achieve their goals.
How is visionary leadership used in healthcare?
Visionary leaders are creative problem-solvers, bringing fresh ideas to the table and finding inventive ways to tackle complex or unique issues in their field. In healthcare, visionary leaders inspire their team and spearhead new approaches that provide more targeted and effective outcomes for patients and their organisation. Moreover, visionary leaders may recognise the potential to expand their ideas beyond their immediate setting, finding ways to contribute to the broader healthcare sector.
For example, in a private counselling practice with multiple practitioners, the senior counsellor and business owner noticed a gap in their practice among male clients, who were not as engaged in traditional talk therapy. They had a clear vision to address this problem by developing a group program involving physical activity and relaxed discussions in the context of peer support. The program then became part of the practices’ offerings and other counsellors received facilitator training, sharing in the vision to support men’s mental health more effectively. This success opened up opportunities to train other counsellors in the area, expanding their impact, inspiring more professionals and supporting more clients with his unified vision.
What qualities does a visionary leader possess?
A visionary leader guides their team toward a long-term goal with clarity, purpose and big-picture thinking.
Visionary leaders are:
- Creative
- Compelling
- Decisive
- Resilient
- Future-focused
8. Delegative leadership
What is delegative leadership?
Delegative leadership is a style in which leaders refer to their team members for their authority, expertise and skill set. It can be described as a more ‘hands off’ approach where the leader delivers less direction and therefore is not as involved in the overall processes. In this way, a delegative leader places a certain degree of trust and confidence in their team’s ability to prioritise their work, understand their responsibilities and to seek help when necessary.
Delegative leadership is sometimes used interchangeably with laissez-faire leadership, however each has some slight differences. Laissez-faire leadership is a very relaxed style where the leader has almost no input on operations, team dynamics and goals. Whereas a delegative leader still maintains a managerial or supervisory role while simultaneously promoting employee autonomy in the workplace.
How is delegative leadership used in healthcare?
This healthcare leadership style may not suit every setting, however it may work well with a capable, self-sufficient and highly effective team who enjoy independence with a knack for problem-solving. A delegative leader’s utility is in the broader context of ensuring that everyone is aligned with shared goals with clarity regarding their specific role.
For example, delegative leadership could apply to a clinic manager or team leader in a group of allied health professionals in a multimodality clinic. In this instance, each professional has their own qualification, niche field and clearly defined role. Therefore, each one is equipped to work within their professional scope to optimise patient care, find innovative solutions and work collaboratively with the other team members.
What qualities does a delegative leader possess?
A delegative leader gives their team space to be autonomous, creative problem-solvers and trusts them implicitly to make appropriate decisions that align with the team and organisation.
Delegative leaders are:
- Trusting
- Non-intrusive
- Flexible
- Respects expertise
- Outcome-oriented
9. Charismatic leadership
What is charismatic leadership?
As the name would suggest, charismatic leadership is a style that energises teams and staff to achieve shared goals and outcomes. This leadership style uses powerful engagement strategies and strong communication skills to inspire people to work productively and collaboratively in the workplace.
Charismatic leadership is rooted in emotional connection, with the leaders’ natural people skills magnetising others to take action. It relies on the leader's personality, charm and influence rather than their sole technical or professional expertise. It’s useful to help boost morale and teamwork, which may be particularly helpful during organisational restructures or during stressful or intense work periods.
How is charismatic leadership used in healthcare?
In healthcare settings, charismatic leadership can be a powerful leadership style used to shape workplace culture. When a happy, charismatic leader is in charge, this can have downstream impacts on their team, benefiting patient care and recovery, which can be useful in both large and smaller groups or healthcare environments.
For example, a clinic founder in a private practice setting who uses charismatic leadership may develop a strong professional brand that attracts skilled clinicians and support staff. Their passion for their work and energy as a leader can help them build their ‘dream team’ of healthcare professionals and administrative staff who all enjoy the workplace culture. As a result, the positive work environment fosters a safe, inviting space for patients or clients, which supports their overall experience and quality of care.
What qualities does a charismatic leader possess?
A charismatic leader is someone who inspires their team through personal positivity, magnetism and a strong vision.
Charismatic leaders are:
- Passionate
- Emotionally expressive
- Optimistic
- Great communicators
- Persuasive
10. Authoritative leadership
What is authoritative leadership?
Authoritative leadership can be defined as someone who can ‘take charge’ of their environment, communicate well with staff and hold a clear idea of how things should be. They take into consideration the needs of the entire team, typically with shared goals. However, an authoritative leader will always make the final executive decision on issues.
This style of leadership differs from autocratic leadership, which may be more rigid and compliance-driven in nature. Authoritative leadership invites and empowers team members to contribute to a shared mission, while confidently taking a true leadership role, giving clear and decisive direction while guiding the way forward.
How is authoritative leadership used in healthcare?
Healthcare leaders across various clinical and non-clinical settings may use this leadership style. Authoritative leadership can be very impactful in circumstances which require procedural or staffing changes. Leaders prioritise building trust so that people working under their guidance feel safe, supported and as though they have an ‘authority’ figure in control, who can handle challenges as they may arise.
For example, a head surgeon may decide to introduce a new post-operative protocol to promote better infection control for patients. An authoritative leader, in this instance, would explain the process, ensure the team understands and provide guidance where needed during implementation. They would also encourage feedback and adapt accordingly, while ensuring adherence to the new protocol and taking responsibility for the decision to make this procedural change.
What qualities does an authoritative leader possess?
An authoritative leader is clear and confident. They are someone who values their team and ensures they maintain a defined role as a decisive leader in many healthcare settings.
Authoritative leaders are:
- Decisive
- Goal-driven
- Influential
- Motivational
- Firm but fair
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11. Transactional leadership
What is transactional leadership?
Transactional leaders rely on rewards and punishments to drive team and organisational performance. This leadership style highlights compliance and rule-following, with clear boundaries and role responsibilities outlined for all parties to adhere to. Leaders who adopt this style use performance metrics, provide feedback and have high standards in the work they do and what they expect of others.
Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and enforcement tactics may also be prevalent in this leadership style. It may also be common for disciplinary action to take place if a team member fails to meet a specific goal or expectation. In this way, the reward or punishment provides an obvious transactional framework.
How is transactional leadership used in healthcare?
Transactional leadership provides structure and certainty, applying well to high-risk or sensitive scenarios where procedural efficiency is paramount. This leadership style may be used as a standalone approach in healthcare settings or in conjunction with other modes of leadership to optimise patient safety and ensure compliance to protocols and safety standards in the workplace.
For example, a nurse manager may implement a transactional leadership style to enforce infection control protocols in a high-risk ward or disease outbreak. There are clear procedures, including PPE use and methods to monitor adherence to the outlined protocols. While there may be less obvious reward recognition in this case, there could be punishment or warnings given for failure to stick to the given infection control protocols.
What qualities does a transactional leader possess?
A transactional leader focuses on structure, rewards, consequences and accountability to meet immediate goals as part of their approach.
Transactional leaders are:
- Results-driven
- Structured
- Focused
- Detail-oriented
- Accountable
Integrative leadership: an evolving practice
What about a blended leadership style to call your own?
In the complex world of healthcare, there’s nothing stopping you from developing your own leadership style that suits your strengths, personal style and specific role. Blending elements from multiple approaches can give you a unique, flexible and patient-centred leadership style that’s yours to use where needed.
You’ll always need to consider the team you’re working with, patient needs and workplace environment when implementing the right leadership style. However, now you’ve got an idea of what several leadership styles have to offer, so you can begin to think about what aligns with your own abilities or consider adopting a style that may challenge you to find new abilities as a leader.
A career in healthcare is an evolving journey and so too will be your leadership style. Your experience, skills, interests and niche field will all play a part in your influence on teams, how you prioritise patient care and how you can achieve your goals. Understanding your strengths, refining over time and engaging in postgraduate study can help shape your leadership expertise, giving you an edge in many healthcare leadership roles.
Begin your healthcare leadership career today
Whether you’re a registered nurse, a public health worker or a social worker, a healthcare leadership course can help you develop the necessary skills to advance into leadership roles. These courses are flexible, online and designed to fit in with busy work-life commitments. If you’re looking to grow personally and professionally with skills in healthcare leadership, consider pursuing postgraduate courses in this dynamic field.
GlobalHealth Education’s university partners offer healthcare courses in a range of fields, in addition to healthcare leadership. These include social work, public health, counselling, nursing, psychology and mental health. To take the next step in advancing your healthcare career, browse the course catalogue, choose a course and enquire to speak to a Student Enrolment Advisor for guidance with your enrolment.
For personalised advice, book a professional development strategy call with our Education Consultant today to begin your study journey.
