Volume 3 no 2

Followership When it is good to follow the leader

Volume 3 Number 2 In This Issue

EDITORIAL: Embedding trust in the Canadian health care system

Johny Van Aerde, MD, PhD

Of the four characteristics of leadership culture, trust is by far the most important. Without it, other aspects of the leadership environment cannot flourish read article

OPINION: Leadership, followership, and peak team performance

David R. Williams, MD, CM, and

Sandra J. Smith, MA, CHE

Most health care professionals are very effective at building technical competencies and expertise, but many opportunities to prevent clinical error require them to use non-technical behavioural skills that focus on leadership, followership, and team skills. This opinion paper connects the constructs of leadership, followership, and peak team performance in aviation and space flight with health care teams and organizations.   read article

Exploring the relation between Canadians’ values and health system costs

Anne W. Snowdon, PhD, Karin Schnarr, PhD, Abdul Hussein, PhD, Charles Alessi, MD

There is a clear misalignment between what Canadians value and how the performance of Canada’s health care system is measured and funded. Survey data suggest that Canadians value greater autonomy and empowerment in managing their health care. They value more “personalized” care that engages every individual patient in a collaborative partnership with health care providers to make decisions that support health, wellness, and quality of life.   read article

How conversations become culture: physicians leading in complex times

Darren Larsen, MD

It is not becoming easier to either practise or manage our careers in the current health care system. How can physicians best show leadership in times of great uncertainty? How can they generate a new conversation that keeps them positive, hopeful, and energized in front of their patients, peers, and in their own thoughts? What follows are nine proposals to ensure that physicians remain the best leaders possible and to help move the profession along in a proactive and constructive way.

read article

Opinion: Good leaders create followers, great leaders create leaders

Peter Lees, FRCS

Effective leadership is not coercive, but rather authoritative, affiliative, democratic, and coaching. However, the complexity of our current health care system is now so great that a leader cannot have the skills needed to lead all of the time. Instead, we need teams of insightful, empowering leaders who can promote the right culture, ensure high standards of care delivery, and pass the baton of leadership between themselves to ensure that staff and patients benefit. read article

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Exemplary practices of medical leaders in Australia

Graham Dickson, PhD

Australian physician leaders share their insights into why they believe physicians make good leaders, the skills they need, and how to make the transition from clinician to leader. read article

Development of physician leadership: a scoping review

Luljeta Pallaveshi, RN, LLB, and Abraham Rudnick, MD, PhD

Physician leadership is required for transformation and improvement of health care organizations and systems. However, although development of physician leadership is presumably helpful, there is no clear evidence base for such development. Thus, our study aimed to answer the questions: What evidence-based interventions are used to develop physician leadership for health care transformation and improvement? read article

Coaching competencies for physicians: change the conversation, change everything

Nancy M. Merrow, MD

A coach is focused on building capacity in the person being coached, whether that person is a patient, student, or team member. A coach uses artful questions to clarify the goals of the person being coached, help align their aspirations with personal values, increase their commitment to action, and hold them accountable to their intentions. read article

REFLECTIONS : On the shoulders of giants: inspiration for aspiring physician leaders

Vanessa E. Zannella and

Liza Abraham

Although the number of women in medicine has increased dramatically in the past two decades, this has not been reflected in physician leadership positions. The disproportionately fewer women in positions of leadership and administration has meant fewer opportunities for mentorship. This article presents words of wisdom and inspiration from 10 female physician leaders. read article

BOOK REVIEW: Stop Physician Burnout: What to Do When Working Harder Isn’t Working

Dike Drummond, MD

Heritage Press, 2014

Reviewed by Johny Van Aerde, MD, PhD

read review