Leading from Intermediary Positions: First-line Administrators' Experiences of their Occupational Role and Situation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to illuminate how first-line administrators in healthcare organizations perceive their occupational role and situation. Interviews were conducted with eight first-line administrators in healthcare environments (five women and three men). Five were registered nurses, one was an occupational therapist, one a physiotherapist and one had a degree in logopaedics. A semi-structured formula with broad open-ended questions was used for the personal interviews. A qualitative interpretive method was used in the analysis. The analysis resulted in three categories describing the perceived role and situation of being a first-line administrator, namely, "developing strategies to manage the leadership role", "being part of an organizational culture characterized by traditional values", and "treading a fine line and striving to manage the balancing act". The results from this study indicate that there is a need to support this group of leaders with training adjusted to the role and situation of leading from intermediary positions in organizations.

• Balance
• Demand
• First-line Administrators
• Gender
• Health
• Leadership
• Metaphors
• Strategies
• Support