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Leading change in health care: the challenge of anxiety

John Duncan Edmonstone (MTDS, RIPON, UK)

Leadership in Health Services

ISSN: 1751-1879

Article publication date: 19 November 2021

Issue publication date: 21 April 2022

988

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the centrality of anxiety in health care, especially in the context of leading change. It identifies the importance of emotional labour for clinical professionals and the resultant development of defensive routines. The idea of containment is central to addressing anxiety.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach involves identification of anxiety as a key factor in leading change in health care, but one which is often ignored.

Findings

Anxiety is the elephant in the room vis-a-vis leading change in health care. To address the use of defensive routines, a range of activities can act as “containers” for anxiety and help with leading change.

Practical implications

To lead change in health care implies addressing the existence and importance of anxiety and the emotional labour which health-care professionals undertake.

Originality/value

The existence of anxiety and the profound impact it has on leading change in health care has typically been under-estimated or avoided. The paper aims to remedy this.

Keywords

Citation

Edmonstone, J.D. (2022), "Leading change in health care: the challenge of anxiety", Leadership in Health Services, Vol. 35 No. 2, pp. 149-159. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHS-07-2021-0066

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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