NCHL Leadership Self-Assessment, Reflection, and Personal Development Plan

 


Assess the development of your healthcare leadership competencies over the course of your MHA program using a STAR Format Competency Rating Table. In addition, write a one-paragraph reflection on your capstone experience, and create three SMART goals for your future healthcare leadership development.

 

Introduction
Throughout their careers, healthcare leaders must regularly assess their individual competencies and how those competencies align with organizational needs and priorities. Changing laws, regulations, technology, consumer preferences, medical treatment advances, and external environmental shifts can affect the skill sets needed for effective leadership. An accurate self-assessment is the first step in identifying potential gaps and in developing an action plan to close those potential gaps.

This assessment provides an opportunity for you to examine your leadership skills with respect to the NCHL health leadership competencies and assess your progress in developing those skills as you have advanced through your program.


You have been practicing NCHL competencies throughout the program. Now is an ideal time to reflect upon your growth, and to set a few specific action steps for future career development. Examining your growth in each of the healthcare executive competencies is a helpful way to identify behavioral examples of skill execution.

This assessment has three parts:

Part 1: Leadership Self-Assessment

Assess the development of your leadership skills over the course of your MHA program.

Part 2: Reflection

Write a paragraph reflecting on your capstone project and what you learned about your own leadership abilities.

Part 3: Personal Development Plan

Identify measurable action steps for future career development by creating three SMART goals for future healthcare leadership competency development.

 

Instructions
Part 1: Leadership Self-Assessment

Complete a self-assessment of your health leadership competencies using the STAR Format Competency Rating Table Download STAR Format Competency Rating Table. Instructions for filling in the table are included in the document.

In completing the self-assessment, make sure you do the following:

Assess personal progress toward developing NCHL health leadership competencies.
Compare your baseline competency rating at the start of your program with your current competency rating.
Explain any new insights from your competency assessment.
Describe specific examples of how you have demonstrated NCHL health leadership competencies, with the intent of improving healthcare outcomes.
 

Analytical Thinking3 (Competent)5 (Expert)Situation: During my "Healthcare Financial Management" course, our final project was to analyze the financial viability of expanding a hospital's cardiology department to include a new catheterization lab. Task: My task was to conduct a comprehensive financial analysis, including a break-even analysis and a return-on-investment (ROI) forecast, using provided market data and operational costs. Action: I applied analytical frameworks learned in class, such as cost-benefit analysis and forecasting models. I identified key variables that could impact profitability, such as patient volume and reimbursement rates, and created a sensitivity analysis to assess risk. Result: My analysis demonstrated that while the expansion was a significant investment, it would achieve a positive ROI within five years. The project not only reinforced my analytical skills but also gave me the confidence to use data-driven insights to make strategic recommendations that improve both organizational health and access to specialized care.
Team Leadership3 (Competent)5 (Expert)Situation: I was the team leader for a capstone project focused on improving patient flow in a community hospital’s emergency department (ED). Task: My role was to coordinate the group's efforts, delegate tasks, and ensure we met our project deadlines while maintaining a collaborative and supportive environment. Action: I established clear communication channels and used a project management tool to track our progress. When we encountered disagreements on methodology, I facilitated a discussion to ensure every team member's perspective was heard, leading to a more robust and comprehensive solution. I also scheduled regular check-ins to provide support and address any roadblocks. Result: Our team successfully identified a 15% reduction in average patient wait times by optimizing staff scheduling and triage processes. The project received an A, but more importantly, my team members reported a positive and productive experience, highlighting my ability to foster collaboration and manage complex projects to improve healthcare outcomes.

Insights Gained from Competency Assessment

My self-assessment has provided new insights into my growth, particularly the shift from a tactical to a strategic mindset. Initially, I viewed leadership as a set of individual actions. Now, I understand it as a holistic process that connects data analysis, communication, and change management to drive meaningful improvement. The most significant insight is that leadership is not about having all the answers but about asking the right questions, fostering a data-informed culture, and empowering teams to solve problems collaboratively. I have learned to appreciate the complexity of healthcare systems and the necessity of a multi-faceted approach to leadership.

Sample Answer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MHA Leadership Self-Assessment & Development Plan

Part 1: Leadership Self-Assessment

NCHL Competency Rating Table

This self-assessment reflects on my development of key NCHL competencies throughout my Master of Healthcare Administration program. My baseline ratings reflect my skill level at the program's start, and my current ratings show my progress at the conclusion of my coursework. The insights gained from this reflection are crucial for shaping my future development.

CompetencyBaseline RatingCurrent RatingSTAR Format Example
Change Leadership2 (Developing)4 (Skilled)Situation: A local healthcare system was facing resistance from nurses regarding the adoption of a new electronic health record (EHR) system. The nurses were concerned about increased workload and a lack of training. Task: My MHA program's "Healthcare Informatics" course required us to develop a change management plan to address stakeholder concerns and facilitate a smooth transition to the new EHR.