Perceived Notions of Academic Leaders about Leadership Capabilities for effective performance of Health Sciences Institutes

Educational leadership is essential for competitive health sciences education environment. In 
order  to  develop  a  supportive  and  collaborative  environment  in  health  sciences  education 
institutions,  various  skills  and  abilities  required  among  academic  leaders.  There  is  lack  of 
consensus about the exact characteristics of a successful leader in higher education. In order to 
reinforce leadership qualities in academic leaders in the context of higher education and identify 
various  perceptions  about  leadership  qualities  as  perceived  by  academic  leaders  of  health 
sciences  institutes  a  cross  sectional  study  has  been  conducted  in Health  Sciences  Institutes 
/Universities offering formal degree programs of various institutes in the state of Maharashtra 
during August 2019 to December 2019. The study population was the academic leaders in the 
health sciences institutions serving in different capacities starting from Heads of the academic 
departments  in  a  college,  Dean/Principals  of  the  colleges  and  vice  chancellors  of  the 
universities. Study concluded that, the academic leaders of the health sciences institutes have 
better understanding  about  the  leadership  capabilities  required  for  effective performance  of 
health sciences institutions. The perceptions of academic leaders revealed that understanding 
personal  strengths  and  limitations  is most  important  personal  capability,  transparency  and 
honesty while  dealing with  others  is most  important  Interpersonal Capability  and  thinking 
creatively and laterally is important among Intellectual Capabilities.