Customer Reviews

From Management to Leadership: Interpersonal Skillsfor Success in Health Care (JB ISBN) (J-B AHA Press)

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Dr. Jo Manion is the founder and principle consultant for Manion & Associates, an organizational consulting practice which serves the needs of individuals and organizations. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and has published extensively and spoken on areas of leadership development, the creation of positive work environments, and the development of effective work teams.

In her book From Management to Leadership: Practical Strategies for Healthcare Leaders, Dr. Manion defines leadership and its attributes and compares and contrasts the differences between an effective manager and leader. Important differences that she highlights between these two roles are the focus of managing in the here and now vs. leading into the future. The creation of a vision and mission are an integral cornerstone of an effective leader.

This book effectively highlights how to build effective relationships through the dynamic interaction between leader and follower. Creating commitment to an organization is also discussed. Becoming an effective leader is an exercise in futility if you are unable to mobilize your staff to follow. A key discussion point in this section is the importance of creating a clear mission and vision statement. Commitment will follow if the organization practices what it preaches. Consistency is paramount. Written and oral communications styles are also discussed. The topics range from communicating clearly in a presentation to errors in communication because of cultural differences.

A concise discussion of facilitating processes in today's business environment covers empowering employees, creating teams and resolving conflict. The overall theme is to teach leaders how to assess a problem, intervene only when necessary and redirect the process. The importance of getting results from the processes used is also highlighted as well as the need to develop staff to lead as well.

The author effectively presents these key aspects of developing into a leadership role. These skills can be applied at any level of leadership from the novice leader to the experienced senior executive. While addressing issues within the healthcare sector, Dr. Manion's points can easily be translated to leadership improvement in the business sector. Concrete examples are provided to illustrate key points. To illustrate the importance of communicating with clarity Dr. Manion uses the following example:
During his tenure as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, J. Edgar Hoover was taught the importance of clear communication while reviewing a letter draft. In the margin of the letter he wrote, "Watch the borders". His intent was to inform his secretary to widen the borders of the letter. Unfortunately, his overzealous aides assumed that he meant to watch the borders of Mexico and military readiness was increased along the U.S.-Mexico border. (p. 119)

Thankfully, no negative repercussions occurred in the diplomatic relationship between the United States and Mexico because of this miscommunication but Dr. Manion illustrates her point effectively with this example.

From Management to Leadership is an educational resource for any individual currently in a leadership role as well as anyone striving to become an effective leader. This book teaches and reinforces valuable skills for communicating, negotiating, leading and facilitating change. The author successfully illustrates how leaders can get off track but this book can be used as a guide to get on track again. The book is easily read and the examples provided to illustrate points are always applicable and oftentimes humorous. This reviewer highly recommends this book to any aspiring leader and as a resource for those who need a refresher course in effective leadership skills.

Very detailed and easy to read, Ms. Manion uses many examples to inspire those of us who will be entering the health care management field in the near future. This book teaches how to be an effective leader, not only a manager. Her explanations are easily understood, even by students preparing to enter the field. Striving to be a great health care leader is a challenge I will take with the knowledge from this book!