ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how a particular type of 'medical leadership', grounded in practice and supported by reflection is the way forward. The use of facilitated reflection in different forms can be a useful process for doctors to become more effective medical leaders, particularly in the area of driving forward quality improvement and service development initiatives. The most commonly explored leadership style paradigm is that of transformational versus transactional leadership. There is a general acceptance that the transformational leadership style is associated with better outcomes and performances across a wide range of business, educational and public sector contexts, borne out by several large meta-analyses such as that by Judge and Piccolo. Transformational leadership for healthcare has been promoted by some who argue it is most effective at influencing others to accept change, but this emphasis on transformational leadership should be questioned.
