Exploring leadership in health professionals following an industry-based leadership program: A cross-sectional survey

• Published in: Journal of advanced nursing 2023-12, Vol.79 (12), p.4747-4755
• Main Authors: Middleton, Rebekkah, Montgomery, Amy, Murray, Suzanne, Peters, Sally, Halcomb, Elizabeth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical medicine; Cross-sectional studies; Culture; Health behavior; Health care industry; Health services; Leadership style; Medical personnel; Motivation; Nurses; Nursing; Polls & surveys; Professional development; Professional training; Questionnaires; Transformational leadership; Workforce; Workplaces
• ISSN: 0309-2402; 1365-2648
• DOI: 10.1111/jan.15738

To evaluate the self-reported leadership practices and behaviours of health professionals following a leadership program and explore factors that impacted leadership style. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to October 2022. The survey was disseminated via email to leadership program graduates. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire Form-6S was used to measure leadership style. Eighty completed surveys were included in the analysis. Participants scored highest on transformational leadership and lowest on passive/avoidant leadership style. Participants with higher qualifications scored significantly higher in the inspirational motivation scores (p = 0.03). As years in their profession increased, there was a significant decrease in contingent reward scores (p = 0.04). The younger participants scored significantly higher on the management-by-exception than older participants (p = 0.05). There were no significant associations with the year the leadership program was completed, gender or profession and Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire Form - 6S scores. Most participants (72.5%) strongly agreed that the program enhanced their leadership development and 91.3% strongly agreed or agreed that they routinely apply the skills and knowledge learnt in the program in their workplace. Formal leadership education is important in developing a transformational nursing workforce. This study found that program graduates had adopted a transformational leadership style. Education, years of experience and age impacted the specific leadership elements. Future work needs to incorporate longitudinal follow-up to relate changes in leadership with impact on clinical practice. Transformational leadership as a dominant style can contribute to nurses and other disciplines positively contributing to innovative and person-centred approaches to health service delivery. What already is known-Leadership amongst nurses and other health professionals impacts patients, staff, organizations and ultimately healthcare culture. What this paper adds-Formal leadership education is important in developing a transformational healthcare workforce. Implications for practice/policy-Transformational leadership can enhance nurses and other disciplines commitment to innovative and person-centred approaches. This research identifies that lessons learnt from formal leadership education are retained over time by healthcare providers. This is important for nursing staff, and other he