Supporting diverse health leadership requires active listening, observing, learning and bystanding
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
ISSN: 2040-7149
Article publication date: 20 February 2023
Issue publication date: 28 March 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Fostering diversity in health leadership is imperative as that not only enhances the quality of health care itself, but improves an organization's effectiveness and responsiveness to address the needs of a diverse population. Inequitable structures entrenched in health care such as sexism, racism and settler colonialism undermine efforts made by women from diverse backgrounds to obtain leadership roles. This paper identifies leading practices which support diverse health leadership.
Design/methodology/approach
A multi-methodological approach involving a targeted published and gray literature search undertaken through both traditional means and a systematic social media search, focused particularly on Twitter. A literature and social media extraction tool was developed to review and curate more than 800 resources. Items chosen included those which best highlighted the barriers faced by diverse women and those sharing tools of how allies can best support the diverse women.
Findings
Four core promising practices that help to disrupt the status-quo of health leadership include (1) active listening to hear and amplify voices that have been marginalized, (2) active learning to respond to translation exhaustion, (3) active observing and noticing microaggressions and their consequences and (4) active bystanding and intervention.
Social implications
When implemented, these practices can help to dismantle racism, sexism, ableism and otherwise challenge the status-quo in health leadership.
Originality/value
This paper provides an original and value-added review of the published literature and social media analysis of heretofore disparate practices of allyship, all while amplifying the voices of health leaders from marginalized communities.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would also like to recognize that this work was supported by the Department of Women and Gender Equality Canada, specifically through the funding of the Empowering Women Leaders in Health initiative which focused on women's leadership in health care, health sciences and Indigenous health. This funding has enabled the project to become a transformational initiative across a number of organizations. Many sincere thanks to the Empowering Women Leaders in Health research team at the University of Ottawa and Queen's University, namely Jamie Lundine, Dr Karen Lawford, Billie Jane Hermosura and Dr Yvonne James. The authors would also like to acknowledge the contributions made to the overall project by its designated leaders in health care, Dr Gillian Kernaghan, health sciences, Dr Nancy Edwards and Indigenous health, Dr Lisa Richards and the authors' project advisory committee.
Citation
Decady Guijarro, R. and Bourgeault, I.L. (2023), "Supporting diverse health leadership requires active listening, observing, learning and bystanding", Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Vol. 42 No. 3, pp. 346-363. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-08-2021-0214
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited