| This research focus was an investigation and exploration of senior executive leadership's impact on quality and the role of leadership in managing quality initiatives in healthcare throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania hospitals and hospital systems. Effective leadership, at both individual and systems levels, was evidenced in quality improvement processes throughout this study. The demands on leadership in the 21st century have increased as a result of organizational culture shifts from the traditional marketplace due to increased globalization, the prevalent human resource dilemma of an aging workforce, consumer demand for a quality culture in product and service delivery, and an increase in technology advancement. The amalgamation of all of these issues creates an opportunity for leaders to advance from traditional styles of the vertical top-down authoritative style of leadership to an enabling and transformational style of leadership. Leadership roles, values, and behaviors must be transformed to meet the needs of the current environment. Healthcare leaders impact hospital performance to create stability within the organizational structure, to develop, implement, and sustain an environment of growth and competitive advantage. The secondary research focus included three contemporary styles of leadership---transformational, servant, and Level 5 leadership---and their relevance of impact in quality initiatives. The theories of transformational leadership developed by Burns and Bass continue to expand into variant concepts of contemporary leadership. Kouzes and Posner's transformational work, Greenleaf's servant leadership, and Collins's Level 5 leadership have been recognized by leaders and organizations as theoretical approaches to the challenges leaders face today. These three popular approaches represent an ethical, moral method grounded in values, thus enabling the followers to share a vision, engage with the leader, and construct meaningful relationships to emerge as future leaders. Lastly, a comprehensive analysis of leadership's values, attitudes, and behaviors was assessed. Values, attitudes, and behaviors of the leaders were explored relevant to becoming a catalyst for change in improving the quality of healthcare delivery. |
