Exploring Pharmacy Students' Leadership Styles Using the 5 Voices Assessment

Am J Pharm Educ. 2024 Sep;88(9):101256. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101256. Epub 2024 Jul 30.

Abstract

Objective: Leadership development assessments are a critical component of student pharmacists' understanding and development of effective team strategies.

Methods: The 5 Voices tool, developed by GiANT Worldwide, was incorporated into the leadership curriculum across 2 colleges of pharmacies for second-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students. One public land-grant institution administers the assessment in the fall semester during a 2-h class session as part of a leadership elective leadership course and a private liberal arts institution distributes the 5 Voices assessment to all students during a 1-h spring semester required course.

Results: Responses from 456 PharmD students were included in the analysis, with 159 (34.9%) and 297 (65.1%) coming from the University of Minnesota and Drake University, respectively. Overall, 49.1% of PharmD students had nurturer as their foundational (first) voice. No differences were found in the distribution of first voices between institutions. The PharmD data are higher than the nurturer population-level average (43%).

Conclusion: Introducing students to the 5 Voices assessment provides an opportunity for them to gain a better understanding of what they can contribute to a team. In addition, because nurturer is a dominant voice, this understanding can help provide appreciation for other voices necessary for team development.

Keywords: Communication; Conflict; Leadership; Self-awareness; Teamwork.

MeSH terms

  • Curriculum*
  • Education, Pharmacy* / methods
  • Educational Measurement
  • Humans
  • Leadership*
  • Students, Pharmacy* / psychology