Leader Characteristics in Hospital Change Management: A Case Study

Leadership is the science and art of influencing, motivating, and empowering employees to achieve organizational vision and goals. Managers’ leadership traits can affect the success of change management in a hospital. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of effective leaders in managing hospital changes.

This case study was conducted in 2018 at Hasheminejad Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Research participants were drawn from a purposive sample of hospital managers and employees (45 persons). Semi-structured interviews were conducted using open-ended questions. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis, consisting of coding, pattern identification, and theme development using MAXQDA 11 software.

Transformational leadership was the dominant leadership style of hospital managers. Implementing changes in the hospital during the period of 2002 and 2018 increased inpatient numbers by 270%, outpatient numbers by 330%, surgery operations by 220%, and hospital bed turnover rate by 290%. The success of a leader in change management depends on his/her aptitude and personality. A leader’s intelligence, knowledge, and skills form his/her aptitude and the personality encompasses the leader’s beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors.

Transformational leadership is affected by the leader’s aptitude and personality and it enhances hospital performance.