This paper studies how clinical leaders perceive their leadership tasks in the context of virtual interactions. We ask whether distant leadership involves a shift from relationship orientation to more task- and control-oriented leaders in hospital settings. We explore two cases involving 10 clinical leaders in a university hospital in Norway. The study indicates that the leaders were aware that lack of direct communication hampers relationship-oriented leadership, which weakens efforts to develop a common identity in the clinics. The absence of direct communication reduces opportunities for relationship-oriented leadership, which may hamper the development of social and self-controls in professional organizations. However, clinical leaders are dependent on professionals’ social and self-controls to perform at high levels. Large distances reduce leaders’ ability to build personal relations with their staff. On the other hand, professionals in healthcare are highly educated, and thus they are to a large degree self-governed. The possible effects of distant leadership may consequently not be that harmful in clinical settings.

中文翻译：

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从关系导向到任务导向：论临床领导者的数字化

本文研究了临床领导者如何在虚拟交互的背景下看待他们的领导任务。我们询问远程领导是否涉及在医院环境中从关系导向转变为更多任务和控制导向的领导。我们探讨了挪威一所大学医院涉及 10 名临床负责人的两个案例。该研究表明，领导者意识到缺乏直接沟通会阻碍以关系为导向的领导，这会削弱在诊所中发展共同身份的努力。缺乏直接沟通会减少以关系为导向的领导的机会，这可能会阻碍专业组织中社交和自我控制的发展。然而，临床领导者依赖于专业人士的社交和自我控制才能在高水平上发挥作用。距离太远会降低领导者与员工建立个人关系的能力。另一方面，医疗保健专业人员受过高等教育，因此他们在很大程度上是自治的。因此，远程领导的可能影响在临床环境中可能不会那么有害。