The healthcare industry is among the most dynamic and complex—and current healthcare leaders are faced with the challenge of improving patient care while simultaneously increasing the accessibility and affordability of healthcare services. As a result, healthcare managers and administrators need to become inspiring and transformative leaders who can guide their patients and staff members through these changing times. 

Read on to learn more about how investing in professional growth in healthcare and focusing on leadership development can help you develop the practical, technical, clinical, and soft skills needed to succeed in a healthcare management role.

Understanding the Role of Leadership in Health Services Management

Compared to leadership roles in other industries, health services managers and healthcare administrators have to take on more complex roles. Not only must they have the business acumen required to accomplish organizational goals—such as streamlining costs, maximizing efficiency and improving operations as a whole—but they also need the leadership skills to improve patient care and attract the most qualified and experienced healthcare professionals in the industry.

According to information published by sources such as BMC Medical Education, demand for leadership development in healthcare has increased over the past several decades. The research highlights that some of the top leadership skills for healthcare managers include:

  • Emotional intelligence
  • Financial understanding
  • Innovation 
  • Adaptability
  • Team-building
  • Communication/collaboration

Key Leadership Skills for Health Services Managers

Demand for effective and intuitive health services leadership is on the rise in healthcare facilities across the country. Now is the best time to begin investing in leadership skills development, particularly if you want to focus your career on healthcare management or health services administration.

The following are key skills that health services managers should hone for professional growth in healthcare leadership.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Often described as the foundation for leadership skill development, communication skills are required to effectively lead any healthcare organization, regardless of its size or scope. Focusing on developing your written, oral, and verbal communication skills can allow you to cultivate a more positive work environment for all your staff. In addition, communication skills help bridge the gap between the complex medical jargon that is used in the healthcare realm and the common language used by patients and caregivers.

Strategic Thinking and Problem-Solving

The modern healthcare industry is primarily driven by data-based decision-making, requiring healthcare managers to think strategically and critically in order to solve the challenges being faced by most healthcare organizations. Healthcare administrators must know how to collect and analyze the most recently available data to enact actionable insights that can improve operations not only for patients but also for the healthcare professionals who are driving the organization forward. The healthcare field is defined by its complex challenges—which include crisis-level issues as well as unprecedented events that require healthcare leaders to be adept problem-solvers who can remain calm under pressure and evaluate all available solutions to move forward in the best possible way.

Adaptability and Resilience

From clinical offices where physicians practice to emergency rooms in hospitals around the country, healthcare administrators are called upon to lead in ever-changing environments. Therefore, they must be adaptable, resilient, and willing to evolve in the face of unexpected challenges. In stark contrast to other business leaders around the country, healthcare administrators are often tasked with leading their staff in moments where a life may be on the line.

Team Building and Staff Development

Healthcare workers navigate incredibly stressful work environments on a daily basis, leaving them prone to burnout and increasing the risk of low morale in the workplace. Healthcare administrators must have the intuition along with the practical leadership skills needed to build a cohesive team environment within the healthcare setting. Focusing on team building and professional development, health services leaders can cultivate a positive environment in which all staff members feel empowered to work together in order to increase operational efficiency and improve patient outcomes. Healthcare leaders who actively work to build up their teams often find that patient satisfaction ratings are much higher.

Why Leadership Training Matters for Undergraduate Students

Generally speaking, most undergraduate degree programs equip students with the knowledge and skills to pursue entry-level positions in their chosen field. However, undergraduate students—particularly those interested in health services management—should prioritize leadership training during their studies. By beginning to develop the core competencies required for leadership positions in healthcare early in their studies, students can continue to hone those skills throughout the course of their careers, in turn enabling them to maintain a competitive advantage when pursuing higher-level positions in healthcare.

Bridging Experience With Modern Trends

Leadership training allows undergraduate students to align their knowledge of the healthcare landscape and their industry experience with the modern trends that will shape the field in the years to come. Upon graduating, students will confront an evolving healthcare industry and, if they have focused on health services leadership development, feel comfortable and confident navigating the challenges they may face in their professional positions.

Building Confidence Through Education

By making an investment in an education that weaves leadership skill development into the curriculum, students can grow more confident not only in their studies but also in their professional abilities after graduation. Leadership skill development often focuses on soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, creativity, and critical thinking. By developing these skills, students can more effectively navigate the complex professional environment they will enter after earning their degree.

How to Develop Leadership Skills

Developing leadership skills in healthcare requires an awareness of the most in-demand leadership skills and being intentional about investing in the right professional development programs. Here are some of the best ways that you can develop the leadership skills necessary for the majority of health services management positions.

Participate in Healthcare-Focused Leadership Programs

Not all leadership development programs are created equal, and if you are interested in a career in health services management, you should select leadership training programs designed specifically for those in the healthcare industry. Healthcare-focused leadership programs allow you to develop in-demand leadership skills and qualities while also offering actionable insight into the changing landscape of the industry.

Leverage Real-World Experience in Academic Assignments

As you pursue your degree, you will take courses that cover a wide range of topics, such as healthcare delivery systems, patient safety management, inclusion and equity in healthcare management, and healthcare law and ethics. While you're completing the academic requirements for your degree program, you can improve your leadership development by leveraging real-world experiences presented throughout your assignments. Forging the connections that exist between real-world clinical settings and the topics discussed in health services management degree programs makes evident the impact that effective leadership can have on patient outcomes and organizational success.

Network With Professors and Peers

Your undergraduate degree program is more than just an opportunity to develop the foundational knowledge and leadership skills needed to successfully pursue positions in health services management. Additionally, it is a chance for you to expand your professional network. Actively working to connect with professors and peers in your program enables you to discover new opportunities in the field. In many cases, students may seek mentors through their program, allowing them to rely on their professors for professional guidance throughout the course of their careers.

Stay Updated on Industry Trends

By being aware of the emerging trends that will continue to shape the healthcare industry, students will be able to leverage their education and equip themselves to adapt to the changing landscape. According to the Healthcare Financial Management Association, some of the industry trends aspiring health services managers should be aware of include:

  • continued mergers between healthcare organizations, largely driven by changing technology
  • an increased need to improve financial performance within the healthcare sector
  • continued challenges securing contracts between healthcare organizations and health insurance providers

The Future of Health Services Leadership

At a time when patient expectations are changing drastically—and healthcare providers and organizations are increasingly frustrated by the state of the industry—effective and intuitive health services leadership is in high demand. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the health services management field is expected to grow by more than 29% between 2023 and 2033, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. The BLS projects approximately 61,000 job openings for health services managers each year over the course of the next decade.

Emerging Trends in Healthcare

Health services managers should be aware of industry trends in the years ahead, which include:

  • expanding telemedicine services for patients to increase accessibility and affordability
  • leveraging the most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology to streamline operations and improve outcomes
  • prioritizing patient-centered care at every level of healthcare

Learn More About the Most In-Demand Leadership Skills for Healthcare Managers at the University of Minnesota

Looking to take the next step in your leadership journey? The Bachelor of Applied Science in Health Services Management (HSM) program at the University of Minnesota offers the skills and expertise you need to excel in healthcare management, plus partial online learning flexibility. Explore how this program can prepare you for a dynamic future in health services: Learn more and apply today!

Request Program Information