Examining Employee Preferences: Leadership Styles in Hospital Environments

Background: Leadership styles significantly influence staff performance and productivity, which in turn impact the overall efficiency of hospitals. Understanding employees' preferred leadership styles can provide insights into what motivates them and boosts morale, ultimately contributing to better hospital outcomes. Objective: To identify the preferred leadership styles among employees in the Department of Patient Care Services (PCS) at Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi, India. Method: A total of 25 employees from the PCS department at Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital were surveyed using a structured Likert-scale questionnaire designed to assess their leadership style preferences. Results: Among the 25 participants, one preferred an authoritarian leadership style, 12 preferred a democratic style, five preferred a transformational style, none preferred a transactional style, and seven expressed a preference for a mixed leadership style. Conclusion: The democratic leadership style emerged as the most preferred among hospital employees, suggesting its potential to enhance job performance and hospital efficiency. A mixed leadership style, incorporating key elements of democratic leadership, may also be effective in healthcare settings.