The effect of leader competence on team performance: A study on healthcare professionals

The study aims to reveal the relationship between the effect of the leader competence perceptions of healthcare professionals on team performances. The study population consists of health personnel working in Ankara Training and Research Hospital and Keçiören Training and Research Hospital in Ankara. The sample number was determined as 341 people using the convenience sampling method. Erigüç et al. (2014) adapted the ACHE Leader Competency Scale into Turkish; The Team Performance Scale (Thompson, Levine, Kennedy et al. 2009) adapted in Turkish by Akyazılı (2017) and a questionnaire consisting of the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants were used as data collection tools. While analyzing the data, descriptive statistical methods, correlation analysis, regression analysis, independent samples t-test, and one-way analysis of variance were used. Data were analyzed at a 95% confidence interval (p=0.05). According to the study, employees perceptions of leader competence (3.90±0.954) and team performances (3.84±0.815) are moderate. There is a positive and reasonable relationship between leader competence and team performance. Leader competence significantly affects team performance, and leader competence explains 23.5% of team performance. In the research, there is a significant difference in the perceptions of leader competence according to the participants working time in the institution, depending on the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants; there is a significant difference in team performances according to their education level. According to the results of the research, it has been seen that the leader competence affects the team performance. In this context, for health institutions to have higher team performance; it is recommended that they be selective in their choice of leaders who know the ethical and legal standards of the field, can contribute to the change and development of the organization, and prioritize team performance.