Block 4 Reflection

Part 1: Course Experience

Reflecting on my journey through the course so far, I have found the experience to be both enlightening and challenging. One of the most engaging aspects was exploring real-life examples of responsible leadership within the health sector. In particular, examining the business functions of Discovery Health offered valuable insights into how large health organisations operate. Initially, I approached the analysis of their leadership group with a somewhat critical mindset, focusing on potential flaws rather than appreciating the varied approaches to responsible healthcare leadership. This critical perspective, while useful in identifying areas for improvement, may have limited my understanding of the diverse strategies employed by leaders to manage complex health systems effectively.

This experience highlighted the importance of balancing a critical eye with an openness to learning from different leadership styles. By doing so, I could better appreciate the complexities of leading a health organisation, particularly in terms of managing competing priorities and stakeholders. A key takeaway was the necessity of adapting one's approach to fit the context, whether it's focusing on patient outcomes, financial performance, or organisational culture (Miska & Mendenhall, 2018). This nuanced understanding has deepened my engagement with the course content and helped me to reflect more meaningfully on the role of leadership in shaping health systems.

Part 2: Health Systems Science (HSS) Competency Development

In terms of competency development, the two HSS competencies I have most significantly enhanced during this block are people management and conflict resolution. Through various activities and assignments, I have come to understand the delicate balance required in people-centred leadership. The challenge lies in maintaining high performance among colleagues while also fostering a supportive and collaborative environment. This experience taught me that effective people management is about creating conditions where basic operations are efficiently managed, which in turn allows room for transformational leadership practices such as innovation, risk-taking, and learning from mistakes.

For example, during a group project, I found myself navigating a situation where differing opinions led to tension within the team. By applying conflict resolution strategies, such as active listening and mediating discussions, I was able to guide the group towards a consensus without compromising on the quality of our work. This experience underscored the importance of fostering an environment where diverse perspectives can be voiced and addressed constructively, a skill that I believe will be crucial in my future role as a health systems specialist. The ability to resolve conflicts effectively not only enhances team performance but also contributes to a healthier organisational culture.

Part 3: Continuous Personal Development Competencies

For my continuous personal development, I focused on enhancing my communication and assertiveness as well as improving my technical skills in Python coding. Through the last block, I made substantial progress in both areas. One of the key lessons I learned about communication and assertiveness is that effective leadership does not always equate to being liked by everyone. There were moments when I had to make tough decisions or assert my viewpoint, which initially felt uncomfortable. However, I realised that being assertive in these situations was necessary for guiding the team towards our goals. This experience taught me that different management and leadership styles should be employed depending on the context, and being adaptable in this regard is a hallmark of strong leadership.

My journey in enhancing technical skills, particularly in Python coding, was another significant aspect of my development. The health analytics course was particularly challenging, especially as I navigated complex data analysis concepts. At times, the sheer difficulty of the tasks felt overwhelming. However, what kept me motivated was the potential real-world application of these skills in health systems analysis. I discovered IBM's SkillsBuild website, which offered a variety of activities that allowed me to practice and strengthen my coding abilities. Completing the 'Working in a Digital World: Professional Skills' course was a notable milestone, as it equipped me with practical skills that I have already begun to apply in my projects.

This block of the course has been instrumental in helping me see the tangible benefits of developing these competencies. The improvement in my communication and assertiveness has given me greater confidence in leading discussions and making decisions. Additionally, the technical skills gained in Python coding have opened new opportunities for data analysis and problem-solving, which I believe will be invaluable as I progress towards becoming a health systems specialist.