Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Marissa Shuffler
Committee Member
Dr. Allison Traylor
Committee Member
Dr. Patrick Rosopa
Abstract
With annual expenditures on leadership development in healthcare exceeding $166 billion, the effectiveness of leader development interventions in improving healthcare outcomes is crucial. This study examined the impact of leader development on team-level outcomes through the implementation of a program aimed at enhancing leaders’ relationship-oriented leadership skills. Specifically, it explored the effect of leader development opportunities on declarative knowledge of relationship-oriented skills, leader-member exchange (LMX), team psychological safety, and team members’ perceptions of patient safety. The study proposed that leaders equipped with relationship-oriented skills can foster healthier, more collaborative environments. Mediation analyses tested whether increases in declarative knowledge served as a mechanism linking session attendance to team outcomes. Results indicated that training significantly enhanced leaders’ declarative knowledge of relationship-oriented concepts (b = 1.12, p = 0.008). However, indirect effects on LMX (ACME = -0.007, p = 0.003), psychological safety (ACME = 0.002, p = 0.23), and perceptions of patient safety (ACME = -0.002, p = 0.51) were not significant, suggesting that knowledge gains alone were insufficient to produce immediate team-level change. These findings highlight the importance of factors aside from just conceptual knowledge for emergent states to develop, and supportive organizational contexts for translating leader knowledge into measurable improvements in team dynamics and patient safety. Implications include the need for longitudinal designs, validated measures, and reinforcement mechanisms in leadership programs. The study provides insights for healthcare organizations seeking to strengthen leadership development initiatives and optimize team-level outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Washam, Madison B., "From Leaders to Lifesavers: The Impact of Leader Development on Healthcare Teams" (2026). All Theses. 4721.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4721