Capacity to lead

The presentation defines the nature of leadership, how it might be fostered, and how it might have the greatest impact on the allied health field. Leadership is defined as the "capacity to lead." Individuals with the capacity to lead generally have four key attributes: the skill to work and influence others; an awareness of the nature of conflict; an ability to implement the flow, adoption, and wise use of knowledge; and the ability to conceive and create innovative plans. If the American Society of Allied Health Professions is to increase the impact of allied health on health service delivery and to secure an indisputable place for the allied health professions in educational and health service settings, it will need to improve its capacity to lead. To this end, ASAHP is currently mounting a national program designed to nurture these attributes in its leadership. This endeavor is critical to the future and perhaps survival of the allied health professions.