1. Planning lays the foundation for future success. Without a clear, well-communicated plan the results could be chaotic.
In organizations you are or have been a part of think of some of the plans you are aware of. These might be business plans, emergency plans, operational plans, etc. How effectively are these plans communicated to the staff? Is there formal training, periodic briefings, or do the plans just gather dust on the bookshelf?
2. Although leadership is sometimes confused with (or mistaken for) management, the two are not the same. Leadership has its own skillset and its own qualities. Health care managers are all leaders in one way or another, regardless of their level in the organization. In other courses you may have read about formal vs informal leaders. Leaders act to motivate others. As we will discuss later in the course, effective leaders act in concert with the organization's vision and goals.
Briefly take a minute to consider the mission and vision statements of your organization (or one you are familiar with). Now consider those persons you would think of as leaders in your organization. Do their words and actions reflect the goals and values of your organization? Do they walk the walk and talk the talk?