Healthcare Leadership: Operational Manager Skills and Development

This report delves into the essential aspects of developing skills for healthcare practice, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of an operational manager within the General Healthcare Group. It begins by defining the importance of skill development in healthcare and then proceeds to describe the duties of an operational manager, emphasizing planning, controlling, cost management, and technology research. A SWOT analysis is conducted to assess personal strengths and weaknesses relevant to the role, followed by a detailed personal development plan using the SMART framework to address identified weaknesses in planning and research skills. The report then evaluates the usefulness of various leadership, management, and team-building theories, including autocratic, democratic, and transformational leadership styles, and assesses their applicability within a healthcare setting. Finally, the report outlines an operational plan, including business goals, objectives, strategies, key actions, timelines, budgets, resource requirements, and expected outcomes, to improve healthcare provision. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the importance of effective leadership and planning in healthcare management.

Developing skills for
Healthcare Practice

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................4
Describe the roles and responsibilities of an operational manager........................................4
SWOT analysis on myself for finding the strength and weaknesses for the post of Operational
manager in General Healthcare Group...................................................................................5
Personal Development Plan on the basis of weaknesses which has been found above in
SWOT.....................................................................................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
Evaluate the usefulness of theoretical model of leadership....................................................7
Evaluate the usefulness of theoretical model of management................................................9
Evaluate the usefulness of theoretical model of team building............................................11
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................16
Introduction..........................................................................................................................16
Operational Plan...................................................................................................................16
Business goal........................................................................................................................17
Objectives.............................................................................................................................17
Strategy.................................................................................................................................17
Key Actions..........................................................................................................................17
Timeline................................................................................................................................18
Budget...................................................................................................................................18
Resource Requirements........................................................................................................19
Outcome...............................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................21
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................22

INTRODUCTION
Developing Skills can be defined as the process of identifying the level of skills
so that improvement can be done in that specific department. It is necessary because it
helps to determine strength and weaknesses so that plans can be executed easily in
future. However, it is essential to improve skills and capabilities of medical professionals
as it facilitate to increase patient outcomes. It is even helpful in achieving the goals as
there is high probability to enhance the skills (Bocconi and et. al., 2016). Healthcare
industry is a very diverse industry and it involves institutions and practitioners which
offers services for treatment, diagnosis and preventing various injuries, disease, illness
and mental and physical impairments.
As health care industry is so diverse, that the roles also get diversified. There are
several roles that are involved in managing healthcare department. In the context of the
file, there will be detail description about the operational manager of General Healthcare
Group. Number of leadership theories will be applied in context of the healthcare. In the
following report, roles and responsibilities of operational managers, personal skills of
managers are described. In addition, discussion will also move towards managing the
team in healthcare. Also, plan will be developed to improve the area of provision.

TASK 1
Describe the roles and responsibilities of an operational manager.
The operational managers of healthcare industry are responsible for overall
functionality of hospitals. These managers are responsible for improving healthcare
delivery by operating hospitals which deliver adaptable and reliable services. The
operational managers have to control and coordinate for efficient flow of activities in
hospitals. It is necessary that manager should perform their task fluently which are
given to them as they plays the most important role within the organisation ( Arnold and
Boggs, 2019). If they are able to perform roles and responsibilities which are delegated
to them then it will be easy for them to achieve desire goals which is delegated to them.
In context of General Healthcare Group, it is necessary for their manager to perform his
task in the best possible manner so that company can maintain its position in the
marketplace. Some of the responsibilities that should be considered by the operational
manger are explained below:
 Planning: It is important that manager should be able to do proper planning so
that organisation can perform better then their rivalries. In context of General
healthcare Group, their manger should plan in a different manner so that they
can provide the best services to their patient on regular basis.
 Controlling: Every manager should be capable of controlling the situation within
the organisation because that helps to bring positive changes. When it it comes
to General Healthcare Group, their manger should be capable of controlling each
and every situation through which work can be performed in a systematic
manner. They should be able to control the situation where health level of patient
is low so that improvement can be seen in future (Redmond, 2017).
 Reviewing the budget and managing cost: It is necessary for organisation that
they should be able to review the budget so that unnecessary cost will not occur
and even that will help to enhance the overall profit of the company. Here,
operation manager of General Healthcare Group must be able to review the
budget of the hospital and try to focus specially on the facilities of the patient so
that better treatment facilities can be provided to them.

 Researching New technologies: It is one of the most important thing because it
helps to adopt new changes through which profit can be enhanced. In context of
the General Healthcare Group, it is necessary for their manager that how they
introduce new technology through which patient can be benefited. For this,
proper research should be done time to time (James, Page and Sprague, 2016).
SWOT analysis on myself for finding the strength and weaknesses for the post of
Operational manager in General Healthcare Group.
SWOT stands for Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunity and Threats. It is one of
the analytical tool through which person or organisation can find the current situation
through which improvement can be done in future. Below SWOT analysis is explained,
which is based on me so on the basis of roles and responsibilities which is required in
any of the operational manager.
Strength Weaknesses
 The main strength that I have in me
is related with reviewing the budget
and controlling the overall cost.
 I am capable of handling the
pressure situation which is one of
the best positive in me.
 I am not capable of planning new
ideas and because of that effective
results are not obtained most of the
times.
 When it comes researching new
technology, I am unable to deal with
the situation because I am not good
at finds new things.
Opportunity Threats
 I can help to reduce the additional
cost which can generate more
revenue for the company.
 It will be easy for me to bring best
out of other employee's as I can
deal with the pressure situation
which can arises at any period of
time.
 There is huge changes as there is
tough competition for the post of
operational manager and I am not
as good as it required in planning
the basic things which should be
done by me.
 Organisation might suffer from
various kind of losses because I am

unable to do appropriate research
which required by the company in
which I want to work.
Personal Development Plan on the basis of weaknesses which has been found above
in SWOT.
Personal Development Plan is one of the most important concept which need to
be prepared to overcome from the problem which is being based by the individuals. It is
very necessary because it shows that how problem can be resolved and to overcome
what should be done (Bahreman and Swoboda, 2016). Below SMART personal
development has been prepared which will help me to overcome form the weaknesses
which I might face during the course of working on the capacity of operational manager
in General Healthcare Group.
Objective Specific Measurable Achievable &
Realistic
Time
Bound
Planning
skills
I want to enhance
my planning skills
and for that I will
need try to focus
more on discussion
work. I must start
to read more
articles which are
related to different
field, even I can try
to take the help of
my seniors who are
expertise in this
field.
It can be
measured only if
I can be able to
take more
corrective
decision through
which I
personally can
be benefited.
Also, if I can be
able to get good
feedbacks form
my colleagues
who are present
during the
If I can be able to
deal with the
situation in which I
am then it will be
beneficial for me
because it will help
me to develop my
future in different
areas. Even their will
be high chances that
I can be rewarded
with promotions and
many more
60 days.

course of
sharing the
plans and ideas.
Researching
new
Technologie
s skills
As I want to
improve my
research and
technology skill it is
necessary for me
to involve myself
into various area
which are helpful in
enhancing the
result through
which goals can be
achieved. The area
in which I need to
involve myself are:
internet, books
which is related to
research and
development.
It can be judged
whether I have
achieved this
skills or not then
I must try to
search new
technologies
which can be
applied within
the organisation
or not and if it
helpful then I
can understood
that I have
achieved the
skills which I
was looking for.
Although, goals are
always challenging
but for me it is
important that how I
can overcome from
this and if this can be
done, then their will
be number of option
which will be
available for me
because I can go in
different field where
better pack is offered
to me.
40 days
TASK 2
Evaluate the usefulness of theoretical model of leadership.
Leader: In context of General Healthcare Group, it is necessary for their leaders
that how they can motivate their staffs as it is one of the healthcare institution were
leadership plays the crucial role. There are number of leadership theories which can be
applied in General Healthcare Group and those theories are explained below:
 Autocratic Leadership: It is the type of leadership where all major decisions are
taken by boss of the organisation (Leadership Styles, 2018). Here, leaders are
the one who holds the top position any take all the decision without taking the

help of their subordinates. Here, leader of General Healthcare Group, need to
take all the decision of own without consulting any of the member of
organisation. They, themselves need to ensure about health of patient and how
they can help patient (Luetsch and Rowett, 2016).
(Source: Leadership Styles, 2018) Democratic Leadership: It is the leadership style where most of the decision
which are taken by the leader is after consulting their subordinates so it can be
said as one of the best leadership style which can be applied by any of the
organisation (Mohanna, Chambers and Wall, 2016). In context of General
Healthcare Group, their leader can also include other practitioner who can guide
them that how they are required to work in future so that results can be in favour
of healthcare organisation.
 Transformational Leadership: This is the leadership style which can be
beneficial for organisation because it helps to motivate subordinates to perform
much better then what an individuals can do. Here, difficulty level are set high
then it is expected so that result and performance can be enhanced (Desborough
and et. al., 2017). It is one of the leadership style where subordinates are more
satisfied from what they actually expect. In context of General Healthcare Group,
Illustration 1: Leadership Styles

their operation manager can apply transformation leadership through which their
employee's ca perform better.
Among all this leadership style, democratic leadership will be applied in General
Healthcare Group because whenever number of advices are received, chances of
obtaining positive result is high. As most of the staff are professional body and because
of that their will be high chances better suggestion can be taken through which
organisation can be benefited. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of
democratic leadership style are explained below:
Advantage
 It is one of the leadership style which can provide number of solution for the
problem which are complex in nature (Knott and Scragg, 2016).
 This leadership style can be useful in building strong relationship between leader
and their subordinates. Even it helpful for achieving organisational goal as it is profitable for the business
(Advantages And Disadvantages Of Democratic Leadership, 2019).
Disadvantages
 It is one of the most time consuming leadership style because it is found that
suggestion is required to be taken from each and every member who are present
within the organisation.
 Sometimes this leadership style becomes apologetic where people build the
concept that their plans will be implemented but every time it is not possible.
In my point of view leadership theories has helped me a lot because as I have to
work in the post of operation manage I must have different types of knowledge so that I
can help out to provide best healthcare services to the staff who are working under him.
As it is healthcare centre, it is necessary that I must consider the points of professional
bodies who are present over their.
Evaluate the usefulness of theoretical model of management.
Manager: They are the person who takes the responsibilities to manage most of
the things within the organisation (Blacker and et. al., 2016). They are the one who
need to understand the situation so that business decision can be taken effectively due
to which business can be enhanced at greater platform. While talking about General

Healthcare Group, their manager is required to understand the situation before taking
any of the business decisions. Their are some of the management theories/style
which can be applied in General Healthcare Group through so that business can
enhanced. The style are of management is explained below: Autocratic style: It is the management style where manger makes all the
decisions of own as they don't want to take any kind of advices from their
subordinates (Kurtz, Draper and Silverman, 2016). In context of General
Healthcare Group, all the decision will be taken by the manager of the company
as they don't want any kind of interference of their subordinates. Consultative Style of management: General Healthcare Group might be
benefited from this form of management strategy because most of the time
worker thinks if their advices will be implied, then they will feel motivated.
 Laissez-Faire: This types of management style is completely different from
other because it is said that decision in this are being taken by the employee's.
This type of management style is being applied by most of the start up company
because they tries to afford more percentage of risk (Hermansyah, Sainsbury
and Krass, 2016). In context of General Healthcare Group, it is necessary for
them to provide opportunities to their employee's to take most of the decisions.
Here, manager of General Healthcare Group should try to adopt consultative
approach where they can take take the help of their subordinates but should try take
final decision of own. It will help manager to adopt some of the best suggestion which is
given by their manager. Some of the advantages of consultative management style are
explained below:
Advantage:
 Satisfaction level of employee's can be higher as they are involved while taking
any of the business decisions. Even it helps to identify that who have the better leadership quality which can
help organisation in future (Durkin and Gunn, 2016).
Disadvantages:
 Every time it is not necessary that advices which are given the employee's are
beneficial.

 Chances of conflict is high if there ideas are not implemented.
Here, I have been benefited a lot from management style which haven been
explained above because it have built the idea in my that how I need to work within the
healthcare because operation management is not one of the easy post and in addition
there is the discussion about healthcare so need involve myself more with professional
bodies who are available their to support and give advice to me whenever it is required
because main motto is to provide best healthcare facilities to the patient who are
present within the hospital (Nelson and Staggers, 2016).
Evaluate the usefulness of theoretical model of team building.
Team building can be described as a process of causing a group of individuals in
order to perform together effectively as a team by making proper coordination to
achieve same goals respectively. it is essential for General Healthcare Group to
implement effective team building models in which few of them are explained here.
Tuckman Forming-Storming-Norming-Performing Model
This model was primarily introduced by Bruce Tuckman's in the year around
1965 which is known as team building model. It involves beginning with directing style,
moving through coaching, then participating, finishing delegation and almost detached
accordingly (Chatterjee and Noble, 2016). Moreover, it has been analysed that at this
point, a team may generate a successful leader and then previous leader can switch on
to create fresh effective group. In case of General Healthcare Group, the Tuckman
model can be used to prepare efficient team including several phases which are given
below.
Stage 1 : Forming – Initially, forming involves the team members are highly
dependent on leader for gaining proper direction and guidance to perform their tasks
(Belbin Team Roles: Building Effective and Balanced Teams for Success, 2016). In
addition to this, procedures are observed to be ignored often, members of group put
efforts to test tolerance of leaders as well as system and leader directs people into
correct way.
Stage 2 : Storming – In context of this phase, it is quite difficult to make
decisions and individuals in team put efforts for their position as they conduct to
establish themselves in context of other team members & leader (Callan, Maheu and

Bucky, 2017). Moreover, this phase consist one more feature that compromises may be
needed for enabling progress and leaders work as coaches accordingly.
Stage 3 : Norming – This can be described as third stage of norming in which
agreement and consensus largely forms among the group who provide better response
in context of facilitation by leader and roles and responsibilities are clearly understand &
accepted by individuals of group.
Stage 4 : Performing – This can be explained as much active stage because
people are sufficiently aware about overall strategies and practices. However, it consist
the phase when team members are capable to conduct over tasks without interference
and guidance of leader in order to attain better outcomes (Coyne and et. al., 2018).
Moreover, the whole team become capable to achieve the set objective and also attend
to style, relationship and process issue along the way.
Stage 5 : Adjourning – The adjourning consist the stage which has been
achieved eventually and people have good feelings regarding their effective
achievements. It consist that after completing task, the team may work in regular routine
or may split into other groups for another projects accordingly.
Advantages Disadvantages
 It is helpful to provide a larger pool
of ideas.
 The results in more work being
accomplished in less time and in
better quality products.
 Some of individuals are not
compatible with teamwork.
 The team commitments may
overshadow personal desires.
Belbin theory – In context of General Healthcare Group, they can utilise Beblin
model in terms of establishing an effective team for specific project in order to achieve
desired goals with better outcomes (Cusack, Killoury and Nugent, 2017).