New book by medical care veteran delves into the science of leadership
August 7, 2024
Your leadership style is rooted in your genes — or at least in your hypothetical leadership genes, according to a new book by Spence Taylor, M.D., which takes a deep dive into the science and philosophy behind leadership.
Leadership Genomics is a groundbreaking exploration of the intricate hypothetical DNA that shapes people’s inherent leadership style. Drawing on his decades of experience including being president of the largest healthcare system in South Carolina, Taylor goes about answering the question of what makes leaders function and how certain people will do better in specific situations.
Drawing from the realms of psychology, genetics, neuroscience, and numerous studies, Leadership Genomics takes readers on a journey through the inner workings of leadership as Taylor maps a series of theories aimed at finding where leadership derives from all while unveiling the five fixed and discernable hypothetical leadership chromosomes that reside within every leader.
The book can be purchased here.
“The expression of our leadership genotype is profoundly influenced by environmental factors –our worldviews, beliefs, and perspectives,” Taylor said. “Everyone has leadership qualities, but those particular qualities are not necessarily the best to lead in every situation, and you really can’t change that for the long-term.”
Through insightful analysis and real-world examples, Leadership Genomics delves into the myriad influences that shape the expression of our leadership genotype, ultimately giving rise to our distinct leadership phenotypes. With meticulous detail and engaging storytelling, the book unravels the complex interplay between these five leadership chromosomes.
Taylor is a nationally recognized academic physician leader with 30 years of experience as a senior executive, surgeon, full professor and researcher. Most recently, Taylor served as president of the Greenville Health System (GHS) — now a part of Prisma Health. He was the only physician to be named president in the 107-year history of GHS — a health system at the time of his leadership with nearly $3 billion in annual operating revenue, eight hospitals, 1,600 beds, 2,000 employed providers, 16,000 employees and an emerging academic health center.
As a nationally recognized physician leader, Taylor is a member of every significant academic organization in surgery. He was elected as a director to the American Board of Surgery (ABS) in 2011 and served as Chair of the ABS in 2018-2019. He also is a past president of both the Southern Surgical Association and the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery.
Taylor is the recipient of multiple teaching awards and the author or co-author of more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Additionally, Taylor often lectures across the country on clinical outcomes as well as the role of physicians as leaders in medicine and patient care.
He currently is the CEO of Integral Leaders in Health, a public benefit corporation that aims to address the challenges of medical care—how patients perceive the health care system’s ability to meet their definition of personal well-being. Of the various factors identified to meet this aim, he believes effective leadership is one of the most important, inspiring both the writing of this new book and the naming of the corporation.
His first book, Unbalanced – The Evolving Medical Care Crisis, was published in 2023 and co-written by Dr. Jerry Youkey, M.D.
“This book provides a unique context for gaining self-knowledge,” Taylor said. “There are numerous layers to leadership that I uncover, and hopefully this book will help transform leaders everywhere.”
About Integral Leaders in Health
Integral Leaders in Health is a Delaware public benefit corporation whose mission is to lead the direction of medicine to where patient well-being is the priority. Its vision is to instill values that help balance medical care among its constituents—doctors, hospitals, payors and innovators. They accomplish this through targeted strategic campaigns that educate, inform and catalyze measurable change. Learn more at www.integralleadersinhealth.com.
