Working in a multilevel health care system, the bureaucracy involved in managing numerous processes to keep the whole system working seamlessly and without fail requires leaders that understand the system. Picking in my acute/critical care unit only a leader with “strong qualities” can be able to deal and manage the dynamics of the unit without stirring a crisis.
According to Buckingham (2005) identified four key skills of managers as picking good people, setting clear expectations, praising excellence, and showing you care for your people— but above all, the manager must discover what is unique about each person and capitalize on it (pp. 81– 83).
The best leaders that I have worked with are the ones that enabled nurses to thrive, are knowledgeable of tribulations of being a nurse in the unit, empathetic to concerns of nurses, open minded, fair without creating favoritism. That identity the specific weaknesses of the nurses and create solutions to assist the nurses to become better nurses.
Kearney (2012) has a similar perspective and postulates Leadership involves action, creativity, motivation, and visioning. It is viewing the possibilities and motivating others to make things happen. (Pg. 190)
Since its arguable that there is no perfect leader, in the nursing profession a leader that is democratic, involves others in the leading process, seeks group participation and consensus. The rationale for group involvement is it fits perfectly into nursing need for superb teamwork and coordination in providing sufficient care to patient.
The democratic leader involves others in the process, seeking group participation and consensus. People are valued not only for their ability but also for their cognitive input into the situation. These people, as subordinates, are involved and active in discussion and decisions. A focus is directed at group process and group effectiveness, all directed at accomplishment of the task or to address the problem to meet the organizational mission, values, and goals. (Pg. 190)
Tapping into my nursing experience, I have observed that Communication proficiency with emphasis on listening skills, conflict resolution skills, ability to communicate a vision, motivate, and inspire, ability to use data and technology in decision making and fiscal savviness, Courage to be proactive with change and not reactive and crisis driven are the key to effective leaders in my specialty field-critical care—.
References:
Buckingham, M. (2005). The one thing you need to know . . . about great managing, great leading, and sustained individual success. New York: Free Press.
Kearney-Nunnery, Rose. Advancing Your Career: Concepts of Professional Nursing, F. A. Davis Company, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/fhsu/detail.action?docID=967065.