How do role models' behaviour and attitudes influence role aspirants' propensity for innovation?
Role aspirants are people that are inspired by role models to transform; Cruess et al. (2008) claim “Role modelling is at the heart of character formation.” Observing role models influences attitudes and feelings of self-efficacy towards innovation. For example, seeing a role model exhibit a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship has been found to increase the likelihood that a person perceives themself as having good abilities in marshalling and implementing people and finances (Nowinski & Haddoud, 2019). The social influence that a role model exerts on others can increase intentions towards change initiatives and innovative thinking (Linan & Fayolle, 2015). This is important because innovation creates economic growth and technological progress (Nowinski & Haddoud, 2019). Mirroring observed behaviours and understanding the social context of learning are pillars of the social learning theory (Bandura, 1977). According to Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory, there are four complex interrelated processes:
Attention: focus on the role model’s behaviour
Retention: ability to remember observations
Production: converting information into actions
Motivation: desire to repeat the role model’s behaviour
Good role models teach by example and demonstrate compassion, honesty, and integrity (Cruess et al., 2008). A role model's enthusiasm is contagious and encourages role aspirants to pursue excellence (Cruess et al., 2008). The motivational theory of role modelling should also be considered since role models influence motivational processes which can result in the role aspirant striving for more ambitious goals (Gartzia et al., 2021). According to motivational theory, a person’s goals, choices, and behaviours depend on perceptions on likelihood of success and how attainable role models influence expectations of success (Gartzia et al., 2021). An attainable role model is someone that the role aspirant can relate to, which increases their expectancy to achieve similar success and is highly motivating (Morgenroth et al., 2015). Interestingly, role aspirants are more likely to be influenced by a role model if he or she finds there’s an abundance of similarities between them (Marx & Goff, 2005; Lockwood, 2006). Age, gender, personal characteristics, and field of expertise are some examples of features that make a role aspirant more likely to show imitative behaviour when their role model has remarkable similarities (Wilson et al., 2009).
Why is innovation important in healthcare?
How should role models engage with role aspirants in a clinical setting?
Healthcare needs innovators because it leads to product innovation (e.g. new drug therapy), process innovation (e.g. new model of care), position innovation (e.g. remote monitoring solutions), and paradigm innovation (e.g. patient-driven idea) (Weintraub & McKee, 2019). Figure 1 highlights the process of role modelling (Cruess et al., 2008). Healthcare leaders can support innovation by creating a culture that shows a willingness to learn from mistakes and encourages a growth mindset (Weintraub & McKee, 2019).
Figure 1. Process of Role Modelling (Cruess et al., 2018).
An organization that is very risk-adverse will stifle creativity and the innovation process (Weintraub & McKee, 2019). To have a visionary leadership framework in healthcare, leaders must enthusiastically reward new ideas and engage with others to decide on how to respond to complex multi-morbidity (Weintraub & McKee, 2019). An interdisciplinary approach emphasizes collaborative decision-making, transparency, teamwork, and accountability in patient outcomes (Pappas & McCauley, 2018). Meaningful engagement between role models and their teams requires trust and high levels of emotional intelligence to building relationships (Pappas & McCauley, 2018). Most clinical skills are learned by observing role models in various situations (Jochemsen-van der Leeuw et al., 2015). Research has shown that role models are most effective when they are aware that they are teaching and provide feedback to role aspirants to facilitate reflection (Cruess et al., 2008). Similarly, a longitudinal study found that role modelling programs were useful and practical to developing clinical educators awareness and deliberate role modelling (Mohammadi et al., 2020). Role models should encourage innovative thinking by following “Socratic dialogue” and asking many thought provoking questions (Althouse et al., 1999). Innovators are more likely to be curious and think creatively, which helps healthcare professionals apply what they’ve learned to new clinical cases (Althouse et al., 1999). Ethical engagement, confidence, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivational attitude and personal attributes are highlighted as key factors to enhance transformational leadership (Bass, 1997). A role model that uses a transformational leadership style can transfer their “know-how” and “know-who” to impact role aspirants' innovative behaviour (Dohse & Walter, 2012).
Althouse, L.A., Stritter, F.T. & Steiner, B.D. (1999). Attitudes and approaches of influential role models in clinical education. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 4, 112-122. Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. Freeman.
Bass, B.M. (1997). Personal selling and transactional/transformational leadership. Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management, 17(3), 19-28. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20832520
Cruess, S.R., Cruess, R.L. & Steinert, Y. (2008). Role modelling: Making the most of a powerful teaching strategy. British Medical Journal, 336, 718-721. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39503.757847.BE
Dohse, D. & Walter, S.G. (2012). Knowledge context and entrepreneurial intentions among students. Small Business Economics, 39(4), 877-895. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-011- 9324-9 Gartzia, L., Morgenroth, T., Ryan, M.K. & Peters, K. (2021). Testing the motivational effects of attainable role models: Field and experimental evidence. Journal of Theoretical Social Psychology, 591-602. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts5.121
Jochemsen-van der Leeuw, H.G., Wieringa-de Waard, M. & Van Dijk, N. (2015). Feedback on role model behaviour: Effective for clinical trainers? Perspectives on Medical Education, 4(3), 153-157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-015-0184-x
Linan, F. & Fayolle, A. (2015). A systemic literature review on entrepreneurial intentions: Citation, thematic analyses, and research agenda. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 11(4), 907-933. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-015-0365-5.
Lockwood, P. (2006). “Someone like me can be successful”: Do college student need same- gender role models? Psychology of Women Quarterly, 30(1), 36-46. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.2006.00260.x
Marx, D.M. & Goff, P.A. (2005). Clearing the air: The effect of experimenter race on target’s test performance and subjective experience. British Journal of Social Psychology, 44(4), 645-657. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466604X17948.
Mohammadi, E., Mirzazadeh, A., Sohrabpour, A.A., Shahsavari, H., Yaseri, M. & Hejri, S.M. (2020). Enhancement of role modeling in clinical educators: A randomized controlled trial. Medical Teacher, 42(4), 436-443. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2019.1691720
Morgenroth, T., Ryan, M.K. & Peters, K. (2015). The motivational theory of role modelling: How role models influence role aspirants’ goals. Review of General Psychology, 19, 465-483. https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr0000059
Nowinski, W. & Haddoud, M.Y. (2019). The role of inspiring role models in enhancing entrepreneurial intention. Journal of Business Research, 96, 183-193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.11.005
Pappas, S. & McCauley, L (2018). Nursing integration and innovation across a multisystem enterprise: Priorities for nurse leaders. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 42(1), 54-61. https://doi.org/10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000265
Weintraub, P. & McKee, M. (2019). Leadership for innovation in healthcare: An exploration. International Journal of Health Policy Management, 8(3), 138-144. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2018.122
Wilson, F., Kickul, J., Marlino, D., Barbosa, S.D. & Griffiths, M.D. (2009). An analysis of the role of gender and self-efficacy in developing female entrepreneurial interest and behaviour. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 14(2), 105-119. https://doi.org/10.1142/S1084946709001247
Comments