Exploring the Peer Leadership Network of Rehabilitation Healthcare Professionals Following Leader Development Training

Abstract

Purpose

The researcher aimed to identify how rehabilitation professionals engage in their peer leadership network during the first year following leader development training for the purpose of understanding the networking experiences, development of the peer leadership network, and expansion of collective leadership in an organization.

Methodology

A sequential exploratory mixed method design including Q-Methodology and focus group interviews identified the experiences of 11 rehabilitation professionals in an urban rehabilitation hospital during the first year following leader development training.

Findings

Three themes were identified. These include: (a) an opportunity to connect, (b) a community of leaders, and (c) a healthy peer leadership network emerged from the data analysis. These results indicated that shared experiences and opportunities to connect in a robust peer leadership network can influence the growth of all leaders independent of their current leadership or networking competency. The opportunity to connect for shared discussions in a healthy peer leadership network can accentuate the learning following leader development curriculum as individual leaders develop leadership and as collectives advance organizational outcomes.

Practical Implications

Healthcare organizations should facilitate connections in a healthy leadership network to develop individual and collective leadership in an organization.

Keywords:

• leadership
• leadership development
• healthcare
• peer leadership network

Ethical Statement

The proposal was reviewed by the ATSU Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine IRB and found to be in the exempt category according to 45CFR46.104 (d)(2)(ii). The IRB Number is EB20220829-001.

Informed consent in this study included publication of anonymized responses as stated within the consent process which included the wording: “You understand that the results of the research study may be published but that your name or identity will not be revealed and that your records will remain confidential…. The information will be de-identified before publication and throughout the dissemination process. Careful consideration including de-identification and quote selection during the dissemination”.

Disclosure

The author reports no conflicts of interest in this work.