Consider this question: What leadership perspective is most effective in different circumstances? For many leaders, this may be a challenging question to answer. As situations vary, so do leadership styles. As an emerging leader in the field of public health, you may benefit from recognizing how leadership perspectives used in other situations might assist your situation.
For this Discussion, select an event concerning public health not previously used in the course. Consider the style of leadership used by the key player or players in the event. Was the leadership perspective effective or ineffective? What justifications may be made for use of the selected perspective?
By Day 3
Post a (2 pages, APA Format, 3-4 References) description of the event. Then, explain leadership styles of one or more key players of the event. Finally, justify the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the style(s) of leadership among the key player(s) on event outcomes. Be specific.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Leadership plays a crucial role in public health and can impact the outcome of events and situations. As an emerging leader in the field of public health, it is important to understand the different leadership perspectives and when they are most effective. In response to the question, this assignment will analyze a public health event, evaluate the leadership style of the key players, and justify the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the leadership style in achieving event outcomes.
Answer:
The event selected for analysis is the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the outbreak claimed over 11,000 lives, making it the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the virus was first discovered in 1976. The leadership style of the key players in this event can be evaluated based on the response of the international community to the outbreak.
Dr. Margaret Chan, the WHO Director-General at the time, was responsible for coordinating the international response to the outbreak. She used a transformational leadership style, which focuses on inspiring and empowering team members to achieve a collective goal. Dr. Chan’s leadership style was effective in the Ebola outbreak as it motivated the international community to act quickly and decisively. She focused on developing a strategic response plan, providing training and resources to healthcare workers, and collaborating with other organizations to ensure a coordinated effort.
In contrast, the response of some government officials in the affected countries can be described as a laissez-faire leadership style. This style of leadership is characterized by minimal guidance and uninvolved decision-making, leading to a lack of direction and accountability. This leadership style was ineffective in the Ebola outbreak, as it contributed to the slow initial response and the subsequent spread of the virus. The governments of affected countries lacked the necessary resources, infrastructure, and trained healthcare workers to respond effectively to the outbreak.
In conclusion, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 highlighted the importance of effective leadership in public health emergencies. The transformational leadership style used by Dr. Margaret Chan was effective in achieving the desired outcome of controlling the outbreak, while the laissez-faire leadership style used by some government officials contributed to the lack of direction and accountability in responding to the outbreak.
