1. “It is up to you how you want to be followed!”
This statement to me means that each individual person has to make a decision on what kind of
leader they want to be or become. I half to show self-awareness in this role, having the
knowledge and of one’s own values and beliefs and comfort living with them. With this decision
comes responsibility and self-disciple of how to follow your own personal guidelines or goals
that you set for yourself. Being a good leader or manager is more than just having the title, and
being able to carry out the tasks. It is how people view you. I believe in my emotional
intelligence enough that if I am comfortable and confident in my decisions that my employees
will see this quality and be comfortable with me. I want to be viewed as a person with integrity
and competence in my leadership role.
In chapter three of our text book “Essential Techniques for Health Care Manager”. I learned that
organizational politics is not a game to be won. It is actions that are inconsistent with accepted
organizational norms, designed to promote self-interest. I never viewed politics in the work place
this way. One statement in this chapter meant the most to me, “Organizations are inherently
political arenas and politics is the art of influence. The trick for managers is to use power
effectively for the good of the organization”. The detriments of organizational politics can be
counterbalanced by fairness, valuing teamwork, understanding why events at work take place
and the perception that one can influence decisions and work outcomes. This chapter has
taught me a lot about how to manage the political side of health care. I was very nervous about
the politics involved, because I have never much cared for politics, but reading this chapter has
helped me to understand that it can be used for the greater good. This has helped to shape me
as leader by removing my fear of health care politics.

2. My biggest “ah ha” moment was in chapter twelve of our text book “Essential Techniques for
Health Care Managers. In this chapter we learned about the seventeen characteristics and
qualities of leaders. In the previous weeks I have been rethinking my major, but after reading
chapter twelve, I feel more confident in my decision to stay in Health Care Management. I do
not possess all the qualities listed in this chapter, but the ones I do possess are my strongest
characteristics. It is not so much the qualities that one possesses as the actions that one takes
that define a leader. Purpose, Performance, Motivation, and Practice is the key to effectiveness
as a Health Care Professional. By combining all my skills and knowledge that I have learned,
along with my own values and beliefs I believe that one day I will become a good and effective
leader in my career. I have always been in leadership positions in different fields of employment,
and in my personal life. I have just now come to the realization that I can be a leader in health
care. Realizing this was my “ah ha” moment.
Rena Richardson