OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of the study is to typify leadership from the descriptions of selected photos eidetic of management. This study will also explore, document and reflect on the experiences of the participants on their exercise of leadership and to excerpt from their own insights of what leadership means.
METHODS: The study uses photovoice method in the process of collecting, exploring, and analyzing data reflecting the experiences of the participants on their exercise of nursing leadership and management. Several pictures were randomly selected by the researchers which may reflect the type of leadership a person may have. The researchers started with casual discussion with every participant to elicit information on their professional and leadership background including their experiences as leaders and managers on their field of nursing practice. Later, the pictures were presented to the participants for close examination and were requested to choose one that will directly represent the type of leadership and management suited from the participant’s own praxis. The participants were invited to illuminate why the specific picture was chosen. The whole process of data collection was documented using voice recorders complemented with field notes to allow the researchers record the verbal and nonverbal cues.
Purposive and convenience sampling was employed in the study. All participants suited the requirement of being an (1) administrator, manager, or a leader from a nursing school, tertiary training hospital, and a national professional organization, (2) with at least 2 years of leadership experience in the Philippines, and (3) currently employed in the aforementioned country. Sixteen (16) participants were involved in the study. Transcripts were comprehensively and cautiously handled. Funneling and coding was conducted, and analysis and interpretation was done with regular consultation with the team to continually validate and identify emerging concepts until saturation was achieved.
RESULTS: Based on the qualitative analysis, the themes that emerged are: “Leaders as Shapers”: leaders have so far played a relatively active role in developing subordinates and view themselves as primary enactors and communicators. Leaders are practicing shared responsibilities with the subordinates in realizing the visions of the organization. On the other hand, subordinates are allowed to go on their unique ways provided that the result will be congruent with the organizational goals. “Leaders as Shifters”: leaders take charge and initiate changes. Leaders take responsibility for all, and guided by positive values, lead their subordinates into becoming future leaders. Leaders act as promoters of new paradigms in leadership. Leaders are able to inspire others to realize more of their potential, channelize the aggregate social vitality and sort out into a power that achieves. “Leaders as Shakers”: leaders embrace innovations and positive disruption. The scale of the challenges that leaders face and the accelerating speed of innovation demands a new approach to leadership, a new way of fostering counter-intuitive ideas, forcing improbable insights and opening minds to uncomfortable solutions.
CONCLUSION: The study meritoriously uncovered leadership typologies through photovoice approach in nursing research. Results of the study may potentially offer reflection, inspiration and aspiration among present and future leaders. It may also provide ideas on the changing landscape of nursing leadership in the Philippines. Future researches may expand the number of key informants and utilize the mixed method approach to provide both theoretical and conceptual descriptions of leadership.
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