A Qualitative Analysis of Individual Leadership Behaviors Among Participants in the Maternal and Child Health Public Health Leadership Institute.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To gain insights into how participants in the Maternal and Child Health Public Health Leadership Institute (MCH PHLI) report applying the personal leadership skills gained through the program at the "Self" level of the MCH Leadership Competencies 4.0. METHODS: 112 mid- to senior-level MCH leaders completed the MCH PHLI, which is a year-long intensive leadership training program. At graduation, 111 participants gave < 5-min oral presentations detailing the actions taken and impact created by implementation of the skills gained through the MCH PHLI training. Presentations were recorded, transcribed and then qualitatively analyzed in reference to the "Self" level of the MCH Leadership Competencies 4.0. RESULTS: Participants reported 562 coded examples of activities in which they implemented skills aligning with each competency in the Self-Level of the MCH Leadership Competencies 4.0 and with three other competency areas that emerged as themes from the data networking, confidence, and career advancement. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE This analysis suggests that intensive leadership development strategies focused on the mid-to-senior level leader benefit the individual and their organizations in broad and strategic ways that can be captured and described. Further, these applications of skills can create a virtual "ripple effect" of the workforce development program, by ultimately impacting a far greater number of people. Finally, this type of reflective assignment can be a valuable addition to intensive workforce development programs.