Foundational Leadership Practices

Leadership principles are often agreed upon by many people. Unfortunately, the consistent practice of leadership principles within organizations is often missing, leading to many challenges like stress and work-life balance. Explore the organization you currently work in or an organization you worked in previously. (Note: you will be able to use this same organization for the final project, so your work in the Discussion Question can be leveraged for the written paper/final project.

Select two leaders in the organization (ideally, top leaders who have an influence over organizational design). If possible, interview them to obtain their perspective on leadership. However, you might also collect information by interviewing others who know the leaders, personal observations, published materials, public statements, or other sources as needed).

For the first section of your post:

Critically assess the leadership foundations from the interview.

Who do they hope to be as a leader?
What do they hope to achieve as a leader (focus more on what they want to do as a leader than what they want the organization to achieve)?
How do the two leaders compare and contrast to one another in their leadership perspectives?

For the second section of your post, select one of the following bullet points:

Evaluate the level of alignment between the leaders' words and their past practices and decisions. What is the impact of that alignment (or lack) on the organization? Support your evaluation with scholarly research and examples.
How do organizational influences (including design) limit the leaders' desired practices? How might each leader improve under these conditions? Support your conclusions with scholarly research and examples.
The final paragraph (three or four sentences) of your first post should summarize the one or two key points that you are making in your initial response.

Full Answer Section

     
  • Dr. Knopf: Represents the physician voice on the Board and advocates for excellence in clinical practice and research. Statements highlight the importance of attracting and retaining top medical talent [Mayo Clinic, 2024b].
Leadership Goals:
  • Dr. Farrugia: Aims to lead the Mayo Clinic through a period of growth and innovation while upholding its core values of patient care and medical education.
  • Dr. Knopf: Desires to ensure the Mayo Clinic remains at the forefront of medical practice and research, attracting the best physicians and researchers worldwide.
Comparison of Leadership Styles:
  • Similarities: Both leaders value collaboration and maintaining the Mayo Clinic's reputation for excellence.
  • Differences: Dr. Farrugia emphasizes a broader vision for growth and innovation across the organization, while Dr. Knopf focuses more on the clinical and research aspects.
Key Points: The leadership styles of Dr. Farrugia and Dr. Knopf complement each other, with a shared focus on collaboration and excellence. Dr. Farrugia's emphasis on innovation aligns with the need to adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape, while Dr. Knopf's focus on clinical practice ensures the Mayo Clinic remains a leader in patient care. In the next post, I will delve deeper into the alignment between these leaders' words and actions and explore how organizational design may influence their leadership practices.  

Sample Answer

   

Leadership Foundations:

Based on the Mayo Clinic's decentralized structure and its emphasis on shared governance and physician leadership, I will analyze the leadership philosophies of two key figures:

  • Dr. Gianrico Farrugia: President and CEO of Mayo Clinic
  • Dr. Daniel Knopf: Chair of the Board of Governors

Who They Hope to Be as Leaders:

  • Dr. Farrugia: Focuses on collaboration, innovation, and maintaining the Mayo Clinic's legacy of patient-centered care. Public statements and interviews emphasize empowering staff and fostering a culture of teamwork [Mayo Clinic, 2024a].