The key attributes nursing leaders require to be effective leaders are that they ‘uphold a position of power and status within the hospital organisation’ (Scott et al. 1991, p. 10).
Power and status are determined by where you are located or positioned in the organisation. Therefore, structural positioning in organisations in determining authority and power associated with leadership is critical.
Kanter (1977) explores structural positioning in her book Men and Women of the Corporation.
There are three avenues that determine structural power: opportunity, power and the social make-up of peer groups (Kanter 1977).
In this sense, opportunity comes through being able to progress in both the work environment and the organisation. Nursing leaders who have high opportunity, have the ability and the environment to create power and foster informal action groups. They are able to bring about change and drive strategy.
In addition, they have a feeling of inclusion in the executive group. Conversely, nursing leaders who are considered as having low opportunity fail to identify with the executive management group and become highly critical of management.
The inability to feel included and relate to a higher power group tends to drive low opportunity nursing leaders to increased parochialism and creating more insular groups that prevents members of the groups from seeking mobility.
confirms the current responses (Hughes & Carryer 2011).