Purpose:
Leaders in academic health sciences centres (AHCs)
must navigate multiple roles as an inherent component of their
positions. Changing accountabilities, varying expectations, differing
leadership competencies required of multiple leadership roles can be
exacerbated by health system disruption, such as during the COVID-19
pandemic. We need improved models that support leaders in navigating, so
they can better handle the complexity of multiple leadership roles.
Method:
This integrative conceptual review sought to examine
leadership and followership constructs and how they intersect with
current leadership practices in AHCs. The goal was to develop a refined
model of health care leadership development. The authors used iterative
cycles of divergent and convergent thinking to explore and synthesize
various literature and existing leadership frameworks. The authors used
simulated personas and stories to test the model and, finally, the
approach sought feedback from knowledge users (including health care
leaders, medical educators, and leadership developers) to offer
refinements.
Results:
After five rounds of discussion and reformulation, the
authors arrived at a refined model: the
LEADS+ Developmental
Model
. The model describes four nested stages, organizing progressive
capabilities, as an individual toggles between followership and
leadership. During the consultation stage, feedback from 29 out of 65
recruited knowledge users (44.6% response rate) was acquired. More than
a quarter of respondents served as a senior leader in a health care
network or national society (27.5%, n=8). Consulted knowledge users
were invited to indicate their endorsement for the refined model using a
10-point scale (10=highest level of endorsement). There was a high level
of endorsement: 7.93 (SD 1.7) out of 10.
Conclusion:
The
LEADS+ Developmental Model
may help
foster development of academic health centre leaders. In addition to
clarifying the synergistic dynamic between leadership and followership,
this model describes the paradigms adopted by leaders within health
systems throughout their development journey.
