Abstract
The continued challenges in public health programs and in particular the dearth of tested approaches that hinges on systems thinking approach, holistic planning and implementation with all relevant stakeholder calls for newer approaches in public health leadership. This work advances a unified leadership theory drawn from skills approach, high coaching and high directive behavior and system thinking approach. The unified leadership approach underscored key leadership themes: system thinking, vision, power sharing, process based and collateral leaderships. It is expected that such a multi-prong approach will strengthen holistic planning with input from all concerned partners, facilitate clarity of roles and balancing of power so that it will improve coordination, collaboration, commitment, program sustainability and oversight function that will result in effective public health interventions. Key words: Leadership theories, leadership styles, program outcomes
Highlights
Public health challenges are complex with rapidly evolving topical issues at local, national and international levels driven by globalization, policy changes, economic crises, natural and man-made disasters such wars, terrorism including use of biological agents of diseases, deforestation, global warming and large scale destruction of flora and fauna through constructions (Nahavandi, 2012)
Leadership style was reported to be a determinant for the level of trust, staff and followers accord their leaders, their level of motivation, team dynamics, commitment and zeal to identify with the leaders vision and the mission required to achieve health program goals (Burke et al, 2006)
The performance of leaders is often influenced by the policy environment, economic factors, organizational ethics and individual attitudes and competencies which are individually linked to leadership style and making leadership approach the over bearing factor that defines the success of organizations and public health programs (Avolio et al, 2009)
Summary
Public health challenges are complex with rapidly evolving topical issues at local, national and international levels driven by globalization, policy changes, economic crises, natural and man-made disasters such wars, terrorism including use of biological agents of diseases, deforestation, global warming and large scale destruction of flora and fauna through constructions (Nahavandi, 2012). The collaboration of all stakeholders at various levels will go a long way in addressing the root causes of disease and health related events and the provision of effective promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services which goes beyond the realms and capacity of any single organization (Koh and Jacobson, 2009). This collaboration requires effective partnership and depending on the problem to be addressed; partners could be multilateral organizations such as United. The specific objectives are: 1) For players in public health programs to gain better understanding of how leadership styles affect the operations and outcomes of organization and programs
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