What leadership challenges do rural communities face?
Throughout our organizations and communities we have and need individuals who may not be formally designated or recognized as leaders yet who can and do exercise leadership. There are a multitude of leadership institutes, programs and courses throughout America. But as stated in a 2005 resolution by the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Service, the challenge for rural health is to identify “emerging leaders from and for rural communities and provides them with the training and resources to play a lead role in ensuring access to quality health care access in their states and communities.” One challenge common to rural health care is taking people who are strong in their technical skill area – be it nursing, lab, therapies, housekeeping – and advancing them into supervisory positions. Promotion from the ranks is great, but without any leadership or management training, these new leaders struggle to experience the success of their former individual contributor role wh
