The purpose of this assignment is to assess leadership styles, traits, and practices as a nursing professional, establish the importance of effective interprofessional communication as a leader in nursing, and to explore the role of servant leadership in nursing practice. PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes. Add an additional slide for references at the end of your presentation.
1. Create a slide that summarizes your leadership style, traits, and practices.
MY LEADERSHIP STYLE IS :
You lean toward A DEMOCRATIC OR PARTICIPATIVE STYLE OF LEADERSHIP.. You tend to set the parameters for the work and have the final say on decisions, but you actively involve your team members in the process.
This style can build trust between you and your people, as they’ll likely feel engaged and valued. But it’s not great in a high-pressure situation that requires a fast turnaround, as itwill slow you down. And, if you dislike disagreement or conflict, you might struggle with how people respond to consultation.
Democratic, Participative Leadership
With this approach, you set goals, guide team discussions, and make the final decision. But you also acknowledge that your people can have valuable insight into a problem or process, so you actively consult them . As a result, you’ll likely gain creative input and fresh ideas that you wouldn’t have come up with if you were working alone.
You might wonder how to manage differing opinions in the team, once you’ve invited participation in this way. Your goal is to build a culture in which people can have healthy debates with one another. So:
- Set an example by being open and flexible yourself.
- Make managing mutual acceptance a priority, to ensure everyone’s participation.
- Learn some Conflict Resolution skills.
- Read our article on Managing Emotion in Your Team .
Be aware that processes could become dangerously slow if you involve your team members in every decision. You’ll need to judge carefully whether you need to adopt a more autocratic approach, even if it’s only briefly.
2. Compare the personal leadership styles of your group members, including commonalities between group members’ strengths and weaknesses.
MY GROUP MEMBER ARE:
Authoritarian, Autocratic Leadership
This approach is helpful when your team needs to follow a process “to the letter,” to manage a significant risk. It’s also effective when you need to be hands-on with people who miss deadlines, in departments where conflict is an issue, or in teams that rely on quick decisions being made.
But you need to be aware that relying on control and punishment to maintain standards will likely drive people away. Similarly, if you always demand that your team works at top speed, you can end up exhausting everyone.
Instead, you can show respect for team members by providing the rationale for your decisions. And they will more likely comply with your expectations if you take the trouble to explain Why the Rules Are There .
You can improve your ability to “lead from the front” by Planning for a Crisis , Thinking on Your Feet , and making good decisions under pressure . But be sure to balance these skills with an awareness of their potential negative impact on creativity, ideas gathering, motivation, and trust within the team.
Being too autocratic can also mean that you’ll find it hard to stand back from the detail and take a wider, more strategic view.
Tip:
Did you achieve your leadership role thanks to your technical expertise? If so, you’ll likely be used to getting things right, adding value, and having people’s respect. But your soft skills might be lacking, so don’t be afraid to listen and collaborate more.
Democratic, Participative Leadership
With this approach, you set goals, guide team discussions, and make the final decision. But you also acknowledge that your people can have valuable insight into a problem or process, so you actively consult them . As a result, you’ll likely gain creative input and fresh ideas that you wouldn’t have come up with if you were working alone.
You might wonder how to manage differing opinions in the team, once you’ve invited participation in this way. Your goal is to build a culture in which people can have healthy debates with one another. So:
- Set an example by being open and flexible yourself.
- Make managing mutual acceptance a priority, to ensure everyone’s participation.
- Learn some Conflict Resolution skills.
- Read our article on Managing Emotion in Your Team .
Be aware that processes could become dangerously slow if you involve your team members in every decision. You’ll need to judge carefully whether you need to adopt a more autocratic approach, even if it’s only briefly.
The Delegating, “Laissez Faire” Leader
“Laissez faire” is a French phrase adopted into English that means, “Let (people) do (as they choose).” It describes a policy of leaving situations to run their own course, without interfering.
By adopting this style of leadership, you empower your team to make decisions and to organize its own processes, with little or no guidance. The danger of this approach is that situations can collapse into chaos if your people have low motivation or poor skills. It can work, however, if they are experienced, knowledgeable, confident, creative, and driven, or if deadlines are flexible and processes are simple.
Be in no doubt, though, that as the leader you will still be held accountable for the outcome! So you might want to organize team decision making processes to support your people while you take a “hands off” approach. Just be sure to delegate the right task to the right person, as a mismatch could mean that the whole team fails.
Avoid becoming too remote, even with a high-performing, highly autonomous team. Change can occur at any time in business, so your organization’s requirements for your team might shift after your initial brief. If this happens, stay in touch with your people, and communicate clearly and promptly. Remember, you can offer your support without becoming a micromanager !
3. Discuss how leaders who practice servant leadership and have a strong understanding of their personal leadership traits can successfully lead others and navigate the unique challenges that are part of nursing and health care. Provide two examples that illustrate your main ideas.
You are required to cite to a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice.
PLEASE ANSWER THE 3 POINTS
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Leadership plays a crucial role in the field of nursing, as effective leaders are essential for providing high-quality patient care, promoting interprofessional collaboration, and navigating the unique challenges faced in healthcare settings. This assignment aims to assess different leadership styles, traits, and practices as a nursing professional, emphasize the importance of effective interprofessional communication in nursing leadership, and explore the role of servant leadership in nursing practice.
1. Slide summarizing my leadership style, traits, and practices:
My leadership style leans towards a democratic or participative style of leadership. I tend to set the parameters for work and have the final say on decisions, but I actively involve my team members in the process. This approach builds trust between me and my team, as they feel engaged and valued. However, it may not be suitable for high-pressure situations that require a fast turnaround, as it can slow down decision-making. Additionally, if I dislike disagreement or conflict, managing how people respond to consultation may be challenging.
2. Comparison of personal leadership styles of group members:
In my group, there are different leadership styles. One member exhibits an authoritarian or autocratic leadership style. This style is useful when following processes strictly or managing significant risks. However, relying too heavily on control and punishment can drive people away and exhaust team members. It is important for this leader to show respect by providing the rationale for decisions and explaining the purpose of rules.
Another member embraces a democratic or participative leadership style, similar to mine. This style involves setting goals, guiding team discussions, and making the final decision while actively consulting team members. This approach encourages creative input and fresh ideas from the team. However, managing differing opinions and ensuring healthy debates may require setting an example of openness, flexibility, and conflict resolution skills. It is crucial to strike a balance between involving team members in every decision and adopting a more autocratic approach when necessary.
A third member adopts a delegating or laissez-faire leadership style. This approach allows the team to make decisions and organize processes independently, with little or no guidance. While it can empower experienced and competent team members, it may lead to chaos if motivation or skills are lacking. As the leader, it is important to maintain accountability and ensure the right tasks are delegated to the appropriate individuals. Regular communication and support are crucial, even with a highly autonomous team, to adapt to changing organizational requirements without becoming a micromanager.
3. The importance of servant leadership in nursing and healthcare:
Servant leadership involves leaders prioritizing the needs of others, actively listening, and providing support to help individuals and the organization grow. In nursing and healthcare, servant leadership is crucial for creating a positive work environment, fostering collaboration, and enhancing patient outcomes.
One example of how servant leadership benefits nursing and healthcare is by promoting interprofessional collaboration. Servant leaders understand the importance of teamwork and value the contributions of each profession involved in patient care. By actively listening and supporting the ideas and expertise of others, they create an environment where different disciplines can effectively communicate, collaborate, and make informed decisions together.
Another important aspect of servant leadership in nursing is its role in navigating the unique challenges of healthcare. Servant leaders prioritize the well-being and growth of their team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development. This approach helps manage the stress and burnout often experienced in healthcare settings, as leaders who understand their personal leadership traits can support their team members and create a resilient workforce that is better equipped to meet the demands of patient care.
References:
1. Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2017). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
2. Leggat, S. G. (2018). Servant leadership in nursing: A framework for developing sustainable research capacity in nursing. Collegian, 25(6), 653-659.
3. Kelly, D., & McCarthy, G. (2019). Servant leadership: Its relevance for nursing leaders in these challenging times. British Journal of Nursing, 28(9), 570-574.
