Leadership within the human behavior - Essay Example

Leadership within the human behavior Abstract The leadership essay aims to present the results of the Student Leadership Practices Inventory test and to identify those leadership characteristics that were the strengths and weaknesses noted therein. The discourse would likewise determine how one would maintain the identified strengths and address the weaknesses. Since one is pursuing pursuing a career as a physician assistant, the essay would also proffer what the professional association says about leadership and to provide one’s contention regarding this. Finally, the essay would present ways to build one’s leadership according to the professional association noted. Leadership is one of the most studied topics within the human behavior in organization realm. Regardless of career or profession, the need for leaders could not be denied since they play a crucial role in steering the people within the organization towards that achievement of identified goals. In one’s particular career that is currently being pursued, that of a physician assistant, the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) is the national organization that governs accredited programs within the profession (Physician Assistant Education Association, 2012). As revealed U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physician assistants (PAs), “practice medicine under the direction of physicians and surgeons. They are formally trained to examine patients, diagnose injuries and illnesses, and provide treatment” (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). Due to the nature of responsibilities and accountabilities in patient care, leadership skills are essential to be assessed and evaluated within this profession. The leadership essay hereby aims to present the results of the Student Leadership Practices Inventory test taken and to identify those leadership characteristics that were the strengths and weaknesses noted therein. The discourse would likewise determine how one would maintain the identified strengths and address the weaknesses. Since one is pursuing a career as a physician assistant, the essay would also proffer what the professional association says about leadership and to provide one’s contention regarding this. Finally, the essay would present ways to build one’s leadership according to the professional association identified. Discussion of Test Results The Student Leadership Practices Inventory test results indicated that I exhibited an overall score of 72.67% where details of the specific leadership subject are as follows: Model the Way - 70% Inspired a Shared Vision - 53.33% Challenge the Process - 76.67% Enabled Others to Act - 86.67% Encourage the Heart - 76.67% From the results, it could be deduced that the highest score gained was in the subject to enabling others to act where a score of 86.67% was achieved. This is a concrete manifestation of eminent leadership skills as a leader is expected to be instrumental in influencing people to act and behave according to defined objectives. The other strengths noted were in the subjects of challenging the process (76.67%) and encouraging the heart (76.67%) which exhibits traits of innate skills in competencies of knowledge and in spearheading activities that involve passion, determination and endurance. On the other hand, from among these subjects, the lowest score was inspiring a shared vision (53.33%) which could indicate that at this early stage, while still pursuing a career, I am not yet given ample opportunities with others, within the profession, to share personal or professional goals, ideals, or philosophies. Further, greater knowledge and understanding on the various course modules within the PA program is still needed before I could effectively exemplify leadership skills on being a visionary and in becoming a proactive member of this particular career. Likewise, although modeling the way generated a score of 70% which is not a low score, this area could still be improved by development of knowledge, abilities and skills which would enable one to gain more confidence prior to leading others to the right direction. Maintenance of Strengths and Addressing Weaknesses After having identified the strengths and weaknesses, one aims to focus on maintaining my strengths through continued learning and practice. As the saying goes: ‘practice makes perfect’. In one’s career path, as a PA, there is a crucial need to further one’s craft through higher and continued education, including a master’s degree. This would enable one to likewise address the weaknesses through higher course modules that would provide the opportunities to develop skills in assessing and examining patients, correctly diagnosing various injuries and illnesses, and providing appropriate and effective interventions and treatment, under the due guidance and direction of physicians. Professional Association on Leadership According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through the Occupational Outlook Handbook, PAs “work in all areas of medicine, including primary care and family medicine, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. The work of physician assistants depends in large part on their specialty and what their supervising physician needs them to do” (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). In this regard, although the primary responsibilities and duties are undertaken under the jurisdiction and governance of physicians, leadership skills are still needed to perform tasks which have been identified as routine and where competencies have been duly developed to the point that physicians have given due approval to perform without direct and frequent supervision. As noted from the BLS, the following examples of responsibilities emphasize the leadership skills to be manifested by PAs: “a physician assistant working in surgery may close incisions and provide care before and after the operation. A physician assistant working in pediatrics may examine a child or give routine vaccinations. In rural areas and inner cities, physician assistants may be the primary care providers at clinics where a physician is present only 1 or 2 days per week. In these locations, physician assistants confer with the physician and other healthcare workers as needed and as required by law. Some physician assistants make house calls or visit nursing homes to treat patients, reporting back to the physician afterward. (Finally,) some physician assistants supervise medical technicians and medical assistants” (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012, pars. 6 - 9). As noted, there have been situations where the PAs were identified to perform tasks and responsibilities without the direct supervision of physicians (during house calls, giving routine vaccinations, and supervising medical technicians and assistants). In these cases, the more that leadership skills are crucial. I therefore agree that PAs should be given accreditations only when educational program for physician assistants have been duly complied with and when at least two years of full-time study leading to a master’s degree was completed for more advanced responsibilities and tasks. Plan to Build Leadership According to the Professional Association Given the innate interest and enthusiasm to pursue the PA career, I plan to build my leadership skills through continued learning by completing the educational program from PAs and by pursuing higher education through the master’s degree in the future. After having identified the strengths and the weaknesses, as revealed from the Student Leadership Practices Inventory test, I would focus on addressing my weaknesses, particularly in inspiring a shared vision. I am confident that once I have completed the required educational program and have been given accreditation and the license to work as a PA, I would have confidently gained exemplary competencies, knowledge and skills to perform the responsibilities expected of me. Thereby, I would have achieved a level of confidence to effectively share the vision of succeeding, providing exemplary health care, and being an instrumental contributor to the improvement of the well being of mankind: a true leader in every aspect of the word. I strongly believe that leadership skills should be constantly developed and improved through continued learning, being updated in current and future trends on issues affectign one’s career, and in interacting with various professionals within one’s field of endeavor to learn from them and to emulate the core competencies gained through years of practice and experience. References Physician Assistant Education Association. (2012). About PAEA. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from http://www.paeaonline.org/index.php?ht=d/sp/i/204/pid/204 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012, March 29). Physician Assistants. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Physician-assistants.htm U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012, March 29). What Phyisician Assistants Do. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-2 Read More