Formal Leaders’ Perceptions of Informal Leaders

Informal leaders are present in health-care organizations. They exercise influence over their peers, which can impact the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization. The purpose of this study was to explore formal leaders’ perceptions of informal leaders in their organizations in order to further the knowledge base and permit managers to better develop positive informal leader strategies. A total of 322 respondents (AHRA members) returned valid surveys in response to the study. Questions contained in the survey assessed the following factors: Professional Competency, Supporting the Mission, Influence of Informal Leaders, and Future of Informal Leaders. The results of the survey suggest that personal demographics and facility characteristics do not account for significant variation in formal leaders’ perception of informal leaders in their organization.