Sustained Leadership Practices and Behaviours Following Postgraduate Leadership Education: A Qualitative Study

Aim: To explore how postgraduate leadership education is translated into practice and how leadership practices and behaviours are sustained following completion of a leadership program. Design: A qualitative exploratory study using an appreciative inquiry approach. Methods: A single Health District, partnered with a regional university, offering a 12-month leadership program, the Effective Leadership in Health Program. Four semi-structured group interviews were undertaken with 11 registered nurses (RNs) and allied health professionals. Data were audio-recorded and transcribed before being analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were revealed relating to how the learning was translated and sustained in clinical practice, namely, within (1) self, (2) others, (3) relationships and (4) sustained leadership. All participants agreed that their participation in the leadership program impacted on their subsequent approach to leadership in multiple contexts, relationships and interactions.