Just a leader? Leadership work challenges and identity contradiction experienced by Finnish physician leaders.
J Health Organ Manag
; 35(9): 195-210, 2021 Jun 18.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1561215
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
This study seeks to improve the understanding of physician leaders' leadership work challenges. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH:
The subjects of the empirical study were physician leaders (n = 23) in the largest central hospital in Finland.FINDINGS:
A total of five largely identity-related, partially paradoxical dilemmas appeared regarding why working as "just a leader" is challenging for physician leaders. First, the dilemma of identity ambiguity between being a physician and a leader. Second, the dilemma of balancing the expected commitment to clinical patient work by various stakeholders and that of physician leadership work. Third, the dilemma of being able to compensate for leadership skill shortcomings by excelling in clinical skills, encouraging physician leaders to commit to patient work. Fourth, the dilemma of "medic discourse", that is, downplaying leadership work as "non-patient work", making it inferior to patient work. Fifth, the dilemma of a perceived ethical obligation to commit to patient work even if the physician leadership work would be a full-time job. The first two issues support the findings of earlier research, while the remaining three emerging from the authors' analysis are novel. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The authors list some of the practical implications that follow from this study and which could help solve some of the challenges. ORIGINALITY/VALUE This study explores physician leaders' leadership work challenges using authentic physician leader data in a context where no prior empirical research has been carried out.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Physicians
/
Leadership
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
J Health Organ Manag
Journal subject:
Health Services
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
JHOM-10-2020-0421
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