Leadership in Physical Therapy: Characteristics of Academics and Managers: A Brief Report

PURPOSE: To explore the characteristics of physical therapy leaders in academic and managerial roles. METHODS: This quantitative, cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire administered via email to Canadian physical therapists recruited through the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and via additional emails targeted to academic and health care institutions. Individuals who met the inclusion criteria after completion of the questionnaire were asked to complete the Clifton StrengthsFinder, which was used to objectively assess the extent to which participants exhibited personality characteristics. We calculated frequencies for demographic characteristics and the 10 most prominent characteristics for participants in academic and managerial roles. RESULTS: A total of 88 participants completed the questionnaire (52 managers, 36 academics). The most prevalent strengths among both academics and managers were the learner and achiever characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Academics and managers in physical therapy share similar core characteristics, with slight variations in secondary characteristics.