Category: Initiatives

Throughout my time as a medical student, there have been many incidences where I was put in a position of leadership willingly or unwittingly. Whether it be through student clubs and societies, volunteer projects or in a tutorial group situation. These valuable experiences allowed me to observe different styles of organisational hierarchy and opened my eyes to a variety of methods of managing a team. Though I didn’t know the theory at the time and wish that I did, I have later learnt about the Situational Leadership “theory”. Or as how the inventor of the theory – Paul Hersey would describe it – the Situational Leadership “model”, as it is something that “you can take out and replicate, something practical and applicable and use in a variety of different settings”

Junior doctors in Australia are experiencing high levels of stress affecting their physical and mental health and ultimately placing patients at much greater risk than previously (Bruce, Thomas & Yates 2003). Sources of stress for junior doctors involve interplay of external pressures in the workplace and personal coping mechanisms. Managing stress among junior doctors involve a combination of support systems in the workplace and appropriate training of young doctors.

Leadership is an evolving social construct. The term has been used interchangeably with control in the past, but, in our society, it has come to have a greater significance if it comes in the form of guidance and management. Ancient history remembers great individuals who, apparently single handed, commanded armies, countries or even empires in the direction that the leader determined. Modern society has changed and developed in structure to the point that no longer is any individual seen to be singularly responsible for decisions, regardless of what they may be heading.