Abstract
PurposeThis research paper aims to discover the elements of good physician leadership as perceived by physicians and to find out how the findings connect to the leadership theory.Design/methodology/approachThe subjects (n = 50) of this qualitative study are physicians from four hierarchical levels (residents/specialising physicians, specialists, heads of departments and chief physicians). Content analysis with a constructivist-interpretative approach by thematisation was the chosen method, and it was also analysed how major leadership theories relate to good physician leadership.FindingsPhysician leaders are expected to possess the professional skills of physicians, understand how the work affects physicians’ lives and be competent in applying suitable leadership approaches following different situations and people. Trust, fairness, empathy, social skills, two-way communication skills, regular feedback, collegial respect and emotional intelligence are expected. As medical expertise connects leaders and followers, success in medical leadership comes from credibility in medical expertise, making medical leadership an inseparable part of good physician leadership. Subordinates are physician colleagues, who have their informal leadership roles on their hierarchical levels, making physician leadership a multidimensional leadership setting wherein formal leaders lead informal leaders, which blurs the traditional leader–follower boundary. In summary, good physician leadership is leadership through medical expertise combined with good manners, collegiality and traits from different kinds of leadership theories.Originality/valueThis study discovers elements of good physician leadership in a Finnish health-care context in which no similar prior empirical research has been carried out.
Highlights
Definition of physician leadership leadership is generally defined as “a social process of influence towards the attainment of a common goal, and its task is to achieve direction, alignment and commitment” (Swanwick, 2017, p. 35), similar agreed-upon definitions for physician leadership do not exist in literature.© Sari Huikko-Tarvainen
Relationship skills According to the informants, good manners and mastering basic relationship skills, such as an ability to relate to others in communication and willingness to listen, are important elements of good physician leadership
As subordinates are physician colleagues following the Hippocratic Oath and having informal leadership roles on their respective hierarchical levels, the physician leadership is a multidimensional leadership setting wherein formal leaders lead informal leaders, which blurs the traditional leader–follower boundary, which has an impact on how good physician leadership is perceived
Summary
Definition of physician leadership leadership is generally defined as “a social process of influence towards the attainment of a common goal, and its task is to achieve direction, alignment and commitment” (Swanwick, 2017, p. 35), similar agreed-upon definitions for physician leadership do not exist in literature.© Sari Huikko-Tarvainen. Definition of physician leadership leadership is generally defined as “a social process of influence towards the attainment of a common goal, and its task is to achieve direction, alignment and commitment” 35), similar agreed-upon definitions for physician leadership do not exist in literature. The author wish to thank the physicians and the physician leaders for their participation in the study, the two anonymous reviewers and the author’s PhD supervisors PhD, Adjunct Professor, University teacher Pasi Sajasalo and PhD, Adjunct Professor, Senior lecturer Tommi Auvinen for their constructive comments and insightful suggestions for improving the manuscript
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