The relation of servant leadership features and managerial effectiveness of public hospital managers: a structural equation model study

This study aimed to determine the effect of servant leadership features of managers of public hospitals on managerial effectiveness. The study population comprised executives from 353 public hospitals, including chief physicians, healthcare services directors, and administrative and financial affairs managers. Data were collected using the servant leadership and leadership effectiveness scales. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics such as the frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were considered, and the structural equation model was used for multivariate analysis. The study highlighted a significant positive correlation between health managers' perceptions of sharing leadership, inspiring leadership and visionary leadership qualities, which constitute servant leadership, and their perceived leader effectiveness (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The perceptions of servant leadership characteristics are effective in the managerial success perceptions of public hospital managers. The criteria related to servant leadership characteristics should be included among the evaluation criteria in the appointments of managerial levels in these organizations.