Newsletters
Could Health Care Become Irrelevant?; July, 2009
There is no shortage of information about leadership, management, and what it takes to be a leader. The “gurus” of management, (Peter Drucker, Jim Collins, Tom Peters, Jack Welch, Ram Charan, Bill George, etc.) having studied the art of management over the years, have all developed their philosophies and approaches to address the challenges of operating and growing a business in a changing marketplace.
Building on what the gurus have developed, we’ve put together our own thoughts and ideas over past several years concerning many of the individual management components that are required to compete in the health care marketplace today. We’ve talked about the importance of an “active mission,” the role that values play, and the need for developing a strategy aligned with the mission and values. We’ve talked about expanding the horizon of thought with “blue ocean thinking,” establishing win/win relationships with integrity and trust, and setting Big Hairy Audacious Goals to make a difference in whatever you pursue. And, we’ve talked about the importance of exceptional execution to bring to life the ideas and concepts that are needed to meet the demands of the marketplace today.
While all of these ideas are individually important, we recognize that leadership, real leadership, is required to bring them all together.
As we participate in and observe the health care reform debate taking place today, we are left wondering “who is the real leader responsible for assuring our health care system provides care for our citizens in a manner that is consistent with the values of our country?” Who is the single leader who not only has the vision, but the courage, the will, the commitment, the ability to collaborate, and the ability to execute what will be required. Is it the President? Is it the health plans? Is it Congress? Is it the Doctors/Hospitals/Providers? Is it Newt Gingrich, AARP, Families USA? It’s an interesting question, and we don’t have the answer.
But, one thing is certain, leadership in the new world of health care will be more important than ever before. The marketplace is already changing. It’s going to take real leaders to navigate the system that is evolving. The ways of the past will most certainly not be the ways of the future. A new level of leadership will be required. We need more “authentic leaders” in health care.
