Fostering Organizational Excellence through Inclusive Leadership: Practical Guide for Radiology Leaders

Inclusive leadership styles value team members, invite diverse perspectives, and recognize and support the contributions of employees. The authors provide guidance to radiology leaders interested in developing inclusive leadership skills and competencies to improve workforce recruitment and retention and unlock the potential of a rapidly diversifying health care workforce. As health care organizations look to attract the best and brightest talent, they will be increasingly recruiting millennial and Generation Z employees, who belong to the most diverse generations in American history. Additionally, radiology departments currently face critical workforce shortages in radiologists, radiology technicians, staff, and advanced practice providers. In the context of these shortages, the costs of employee turnover have emphasized the need for radiology leaders to develop leadership behaviors that promote recruitment and retention. Radiology department leaders who perceive and treat valued employees as replaceable commodities will be forced to deal with the extremely high costs associated with recruitment and training, decreased morale, and increased burnout. The authors review inclusive versus exclusive leadership styles, describe key attributes and skills of inclusive leaders, provide radiology leaders with concrete methods to make their organizations more inclusive, and outline key steps in change management. By adopting and implementing inclusive leadership strategies, radiology groups can position themselves to succeed in rapidly diversifying health care environments.