Introduction Leadership is an essential component of nursing practice. Effective leadership can contribute to positive patient outcomes, improved staff satisfaction, and increased organizational success. We must explore various aspects of leadership in order to achieve these outcomes. We can begin by taking a self-assessment, then identify a leadership style that closely aligns with our philosophy of care, find improvement areas, and analyze different leadership theories and styles. Once we discover what type of leaders we want to be, we can promote practical leadership skills, positive patient outcomes, and organizational success. Summary of Self-Assessment Selections and Results When searching through the different self-assessment tests, three stood out, the Personality Test, Learning Styles Assessment test, and Values Assessment test. I choose to participate in these three tests because they are the most applicable to my future role as an advanced practice registered nurse. During the Big Five Personality Test, I found that I am an introvert with extroverted tendencies. I enjoy the company of others, but I prefer to spend time alone. I can handle teamwork and small social gatherings but would likely prefer to spend my time alone or with small groups. The next test I took was the Vark learning styles assessment. I found I like different diagrams, formats, layouts, listening, discussing, talking, questioning, practical exercises, experiences, and examples. My highest score was kinesthetic learning, which is learning by physically performing a task or activity. The last test I took was the values test. I found that I mostly fell into influencing social, traditional, realistic and theoretical values. Leadership Style that Aligns with Philosophy of Care, Including Appeal As a nurse, my philosophy of care is open communication and teamwork. These two characteristics are essential for providing patients with the best possible care. The leadership2
style that aligns with my philosophy of care is transformational leadership. Transformational leaders are focused on creating a shared vision and inspiring their teams to work towards that vision. They inspire others, set clear goals, provide support and recognition, and are open to feedback (Transformation Leadership, 2022). Transformational leaders prioritize communication and collaboration, and they often create a sense of unity and purpose within their teams. By inspiring and empowering their teams, transformational leaders can create a culture of resilience and teamwork that helps to improve patient outcomes. What appeals to me about the transformational leadership style is the focus on collaboration, growth, and empowerment. These qualities can lead to better outcomes for both the team members and the patients they serve. How to Incorporate Elements of the Leadership Style When exercising leadership in practice, reflecting on specific elements of your leadership style is essential. Transformational leadership inspires and motivates individuals to reach their full potential and achieve collective goals. Transformational leaders are excellent communicators who can actively listen and allow their peers to communicate openly. In a healthcare setting, open communication is imperative, so everyone feels heard and valued. Success or failure of the team is dependent on the effectiveness of the communication process (DeNisco, 2021). The next element of transformational leadership is inspiring peers to have visionary thinking. Visionary thinking is creating a sense of purpose for team members. This type of thinking creates a shared mission centered on delivering excellent patient care. In today's rapidly changing healthcare environment, becoming the visionary leader seeks to transform the department by deploying sound, evidence-based strategies and innovative thinking that is highly valued (DeNisco, 2021). Lastly, transformational leaders empower their team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work. Leaders in a healthcare setting can empower their teams by providing3
them with the necessary resources and training, giving them autonomy, and delegating responsibilities. Areas for Self-Improvement, Including Steps to Improve Leadership Capabilities Learning about yourself and how you can improve is a step toward becoming a good leader. No matter how experienced, every leader must be aware of the need to develop and grow in this role continually (Weberg et al., 2019). When reading through my results, I found some areas I could improve. The first improvement that I could make is practicing new behaviors. I found that I feel most comfortable practicing with familiar ideas. Leaders can practice new behaviors and techniques such as role-play exercises or simulations. This can help build confidence and improve effectiveness when faced with real-life challenges. The next improvement I found that I could improve on is seeking feedback. Le
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