Nurse leaders play a vital role in constructing standards and leading organizational change. According to Ward (2002) transformational leaders possess a distinctive ability to familiarize and realign their perspective to the dynamics of an ever-changing environment (p. 125). According to Roussel, Thomas, and Harris (2016), “good leaders, like good managers, provide visionary inspiration, motivation and direction”, which is in alignment with the attributes of a transformational leader (p. 27). Hence, it is essential that organizations employ and develop transformational leaders to fulfill the demands and challenges in today’s healthcare delivery system.
One leader that comes to mind that I know and respect is the director of our Cardiovascular Service Line unit. The leader possesses a vast amount of knowledge and skill base that she has attained through an assortment of evidence-based research findings and career competencies in becoming an effective leader. This nurse leader holds strengths in the ability to effectively manage people, communicate in a charismatic way, and lead others by engaging them in decision-making. The senior leader mirrors an image of passion, open and honest, good listening skills with open communication, and provides support to staff, while maintaining colleague relationships throughout the organization. It is apparent the nurse leader has placed emphasizes on developing new ways of doing things, which is displayed in the drive and commitment
Professional nurses must deliver leadership with communication and collaborative skills, ethical and legal principles, integrity, and commitment to provide excellent quality patient care. True leadership is beyond the position of being a manager (Grossman & Valiga 2012). In transformational leadership, a nurse individualizes
As Northouse (2015) explained, transformational leadership is a process that can change and transform the emotions, values, ethics, standard, and long term goals of the people. It also involves transforming followers to accomplish more than what is expected of them. The four factors that are closely associated with transformational leadership includes being an idealized influence or charisma leaders who act as strong role models, have a high standard of moral and ethical conduct, and deeply respected by his or her followers. A leader who can inspire and motivate their followers to be part of a shared vision of the organization. A leader who can also stimulate followers to become more creative and innovative, and provide the necessary coaches and advice to the followers (p.167).
Effective nurse leaders are often flexible and are able to change style of leadership to suit changing circumstances. They ensure that their people are regularly being challenged to grow and learn. Nurses show leadership by giving feedback and empowering others to bring out their best and the opportunity to grow. I believe that good leaders help people to see that what they do makes a difference. Nurse further their education to expand and gain knowledge so they can render excellent quality care that patients deserve. Also, the leaders would also help other nurses to work as a team to help the facility run to deliver high-quality care. A leader, “should think and talk about future trends that will affect the team's work, and make sure you communicate your vision to your team regularly” (Pearce, 2007, p. 25). I vision a leader as someone who can move others in achieving their goals and mission. For instance, our nurse supervisor addresses the
Leading a health care organization comes with immense responsibility and is not an easy task. Transformational leadership has proven to be an effective leadership style in the nursing profession, demonstrating a clear mission, a commitment to excellence, and the ability to motivate and lead others to higher levels of achievement (Schwartz, Spencer, Wilson, & Wood, 2001). Characteristics and qualities of an effective leader include
As I take a moment to reflect on my time here, I have learned that I have traits of a Transformational Leader but that I also have room for improvement. I have highlighted areas in where I felt I needed the most improvement to become the Transformational Leader that I aspire to be. For the next three to five years, I plan to implement these changes to improve the way that I utilize the Elements of Adaptability, The Who, Stakes and Situation, Impact on Work Center Climate, and Ethical Behavior concepts. Understanding and effectively implementing these changes will make me a better leader for my subordinates, peers, and supervisors.
As we know the healthcare system is constantly changing, therefore requiring effective leadership among nurses. With that said leadership that promotes positive change is necessary in a health care setting. Transformational leadership was developed by leadership expert James MacGregor Burns in the late 1970’s. Transformational leadership is considered a contemporary leadership theory. Contemporary theories of leadership place emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, and is built around the premise of change. “Transformational leadership is a process that motivates followers by appealing to the higher ideas and moral values where the leader has a deep set of internal values and ideas and is persuasive at motivating followers to act in a way that sustains the greater good rather than their own interests” (Burns, 1978 as cited in Owen Doody & Catriona Doody, 2012, p.1212). Therefore, when it comes to implementing transformational leadership in a healthcare setting the nurse leader must takes on various
When one thinks of leaders, they think of those who hold a high profile position or someone who is highly visible in the public eye. A leader, regardless of prestige is someone who can easily influence and inspire the actions and goals of others. The definition of a leader in Nursing Leadership and Management in Nursing states, “leadership is commonly defined as a process of influence in which the leader influences others towards goal achievement (Kelly, 2012 p.2). Leaders are needed at all levels and nurses take a leadership role by being advocates for their patients. There are many leadership theories and styles in nursing but this paper will focus on transformational leadership and its application to nursing. Transformational leadership is important in nursing, due to its ever changing and ever evolving healthcare methods and technology.
Throughout the nursing industry, both managers and bedside nurses utilize their strengths and skills as transformational leaders to develop a strong sense of camaraderie that bases its success through teamwork and development of personal attributes. As the role of the nursing manager, individuals must inspire their employees to share the same vision as they do on behalf of the organizational goals. Givens (2008) explains how transformational leadership is shown when leaders encourage followers to think outside of the box, thus motivating them to perform at higher levels by becoming more involved in their work and developing a sense of commitment to the organization (p. 11). This not only pertains to the nurse manager but to lower level employees as well. Even though lower level employees, such as a certified nursing assistant, do not own a title that gives them authority, each employee can still practice leadership skills
The success of a leader depends on how that individual persuades others to accept a vision or a goal by using convincing or persuasive communications techniques and how likely individuals will be able to achieve or reach goals. According to an article by Grinspun (2013) the five practices of transformational leaders include, “building relationships and trust, creating an empowering work environment, creating a culture that supports knowledge development and integration, leading and sustaining change, balancing the complexities of the system, managing competing values and priorities” (p. 17). Whether or not transformational leaders use these practices throughout a unit also depends on the support from the organization. Support from the organization influences whether the practices of the leader will succeed includes: making sure that the nurses are valued through their critical role, sufficient supply of resources and financial resources, providing information and decision support, and creating an effective culture and environment (Grinspun, 2013, p. 17). Development of leadership skills may be different for every
First, a nurse leader needs to be a transformative leader. In my view, transformative leaders need to possess great communication skills and charisma. A transformative leader must also be engaging and an aspiring role model who leads by example. These attributes can help them to communicate their vision to lead other health care employees. For example, Lewis (2011) indicates that transformative leaders must have the trust and belief of their patients and coworkers to be successful in implementing their vision.
They also provide leadership to support individuals and create networks as well as communicating clear messages to enhance awareness of healthcare practitioners in the organization. Further, nurse leaders negotiate role expectations with physicians and other staff members. Nurse leaders, through transformative leadership, act as change agents for the healthcare facility or organization to ensure employees perform to their optimum. A nurse leader makes it their mission to pinpoint patient care improvement strategies and thus prepare other nurses with the skills to thrive the healthcare system.
A transformational leadership style along with good communication skills can be used to manage the multiples issues Hartland Memorial faces. “Transformational leadership involves anticipating future trends, inspiring followers to understand and embrace a new vision of possibilities, developing others to be leaders, and reward learners” (Hellriegal & Slocum, 2009, p. 301). Elizabeth and her associates should have the necessary qualities of a transformational leader; integrity, accountability, and motivation, so the staff can identify with them. The nurse manager could give nurses opportunities to demonstrate and experience leadership in their profession on a regular basis. Effective leadership is critical in delivering high quality care; equally
Transformational leadership. Burns (1978) is recognized as one of the earliest theorist on transformational leadership, who introduced transformational leadership over 30 years ago. Transformational leaders are perceived as leaders who uplift their employee morale, subsequently uplifting the entire organizational. Transformational leaders are known by their capacity to inspire followers to forgo self-interests in achieving superior results for the organization (Clawson, 2006). Avolio and Yammarino (2002) shared Bass’s explanation of transformational leadership as leaders who act as agents of change that stimulate, and transform followers’ attitudes, beliefs, and motivate from lower to higher level of arousal.
This paper summarizes the article written by Cam Caldwell, Rolf D. Dixon, Larry A. Floyd, Joe Chaudoin, Johnathan Post, and Gaynor Cheokas regarding the need for a new type of leadership in today’s social work environment, defined as Transformative leadership. The article itself varies in the definition, however in a broad sense Transformative leadership is maintaining good moral standing and sound business ethics among employees and individuals inside and outside the workplace. However, in order to reach this theoretical level of business related moral and ethical leadership known as
Transformational leadership is an emerging type of leadership that is more adaptable the changing environment within healthcare and has the ability to guide and empower staff to embrace the changes (Finkelman, 2012). This type of leadership is especially important today with many nurses felling unsatisfied, or unappreciated. In order to have a successful organization, it must first have the ability to retain nurses through job satisfaction. Transformational leaders have the ability to encourage staff members to embrace the changes to come, by promoting such things as team work, and recognition of hard work done by staff members (Smith, 2011). Having the ability to recognize staffing needs along with the compassion to try and meet those needs while maintaining the functionality of the organization, is the key to future