Nursing Leadership Style Analysis

According to American Nursing Association, “Leaders do more than delegate, dictate, and direct. Leaders help others achieve their highest potential.” Leadership has been described as “influence, that is, the art or process of influencing people so they may strive willingly and enthusiastically toward the achievement of group goals.” (Weihrich and Koontz, 2005) The qualities of a good leader includes, having a structural framework, making sound and timely decision. A good leader sets examples for others act as a role model, knowing the team and looking out for their well being. A leader keeps the team informed and ensuring that tasks are understood, supervised and accomplished using the full capabilities of the team. Leaders create a supportive environment where people can grow, thrive, and live in peace with one another.

A healthy work environment cannot occur without nurse leaders who support its importance, authentically live it, and engage others in its achievement. There are four major leadership styles, according to "Effective Leadership and Management in Nursing", and the most effective nursing leader is able to employ any of these styles, depending on the current circumstance of the patient. Styles include, "autocratic," which has the leader making all decisions and directing all behaviors; "democratic," in which the leader encourages participation of the staff and uses a consensus for decision making; "laissez-faire," the leader leaves the staff alone to work with no direction or facilitation; "bureaucratic," wherein the leader relies solely on the policies and rules of the organization for decision