Healthcare is unlike any other industry. The service delivery methodology, nature of the service provided, types of professionals who make up the workforce and customers they serve are complex and unique, which makes leading a healthcare organization exceptionally challenging. Given this, do healthcare executives possess different skill sets than leaders in other industries?
According to a recent Select International blog, the answer is generally "no." The strengths and weaknesses demonstrated by healthcare leaders are closely aligned to leaders from other industries, according to SI's Select Assessment for Leader Development.
SI recently compared the results of more than 200 managers and directors in a large healthcare system to its normative database covering all industries. The results showed only minor differences between healthcare leaders and leaders from other industries. For example, healthcare managers scored a bit higher than average in interpreting information and analysis and managing change, and somewhat lower in self-awareness.
While healthcare leaders' managing skills don’t differ significantly from other leaders in different fields, SI suggests it is meaningful to measure the competencies and differences in behavior and leadership skills within individual leadership teams, and consider how they might impact the organization.