SAMPLE ESSAY 1
Leadership has become a critical practice in different organizations and business entities. In healthcare settings, leaders are critical in ensuring the organization remains focused on the daily goals and objectives to care delivery practices. However, different leadership practices vary from one leader to the other. According to Vidman & Strömberg (2020), while different leaders have excellence, not all their leadership models or theories have been the same. There are, in turn, different leadership theories that are in existence, such as transformation, democratic, participative, and authoritative, among others. Leaders significantly influence the corporate culture. They decide on the schedule, assign tasks, manage, lead, and delegate. Strong leaders provide the people they are in charge of a feeling of direction, direction in life, mentorship, and motivation (Khan et al., 2020). The varied workforce of today is changing what it means to be successful on both a personal and professional level. This paper provides a detailed review of selected sources about the impact of leadership behaviors in creating a healthy work environment.
Key Insights
Different aspects can be drawn from the selected articles on leadership and its relation to a healthy work environment. According to Yao & Wildy (2021), leadership extends beyond personal achievements to include a balance between workers’ needs and organizational goals hence striking a winning strategy to ensure all stakeholders benefit from the leadership practices. For example, healthcare organizations include stakeholders such as patients, management teams, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Effective leaders are defined by their ability to establish a winning practice that effectively serves all stakeholders’ needs. Secondly, leadership practices and behaviours promote a positive, empowering, collaborative and safe work environment which in a healthcare setting is linked to quality care and positive patient care outcomes (Boamah, 2022). In order to effectively deliver as a leader, key skills are required for authentic leaders, including honesty, self-awareness, good communication, empathy, behavioral and integrity. Leaders should be ready to lead through example and not command.
Example Of Leader Utilizing The Identified Insights Above
Having worked in the emergency department, the unit’s nurse leader was very accommodating and supportive of the different professionals serving in the unit. In addition to being respected in the department, he factored each member’s input, ideas and feedback whenever there was an issue. He also adopted open communication where every professional serving in the team was allowed to self-express, which made the team members feel valued and motivated to perform better. He was also hands-on, discussing nurses’ offs and free time to help reduce overworking and burnout cases while factoring in each member’s role in the team. Finally, his expertise in team management, firm decision-making, and empathy promoted the rest of the team to respect his overall role as the leader.
The Extent to Which the Skills Were Effective & How They Impacted The Workplace
The leaders adopting the identified skills created a positive work environment founded on respect and care for each other and driven by the overall goal of being the best in care delivery. Through his leadership approach, he created a strong relationship among the team members, translating to effective and quality care delivered. According to Boamah (2022), an effective leader’s critical quality is effectively communicating and accommodating other players’ input, hence settling for the best decision that aligns with the team’s overall goals. Even though the nursing team in the emergency unit was defined by diversity, the leader’s ability and skills fostered a positive workplace which drove every one of us to perform better, hence improved performance; this trend increased every member’s satisfaction and dedication to their work.
References
Boamah, S. A. (2022). The impact of transformational leadership on nurse faculty satisfaction and burnout during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A moderated mediated analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(9). https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15198
Khan, H., Rehmat, M., Butt, T. H., Farooqi, S., & Asim, J. (2020). Impact of Transformational Leadership on Work performance, Burnout and Social loafing: a Mediation Model. Future Business Journal, 6(1), 1–13. Springeropen. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-020-00043-8
Vidman, Å., & Strömberg, A. (2020). Leadership for a healthy work environment – a question about who, what and how. Leadership in health services (Bradford, England), 34(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHS-06-2020-0041
Yao, L., Li, P., & Wildy, H. (2021). Health-Promoting Leadership: Concept, Measurement, and Research Framework. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.602333
SAMPLE ESSAY 2
Formal leadership theories play a vital role in nursing practice, providing a framework for effective management and decision-making. One prominent theory is the Transformational Leadership Theory, which emphasizes inspiring and motivating individuals to achieve their full potential. In my organization, I have observed firsthand how transformational leaders have positively influenced the nursing staff. These leaders exhibit charisma, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration, fostering a sense of purpose and empowerment among the team (Collins et al., 2019). As a result, the organization experiences increased job satisfaction, higher levels of patient care, and improved overall performance.
Another important theory in nursing leadership is the Situational Leadership Theory, which recognizes that different situations call for varying leadership styles. Through my observations, I have noticed that leaders who adopt this theory effectively adapt their approach based on the competence and commitment levels of their team members. By providing the right balance of support and direction, these leaders help individuals develop their skills and confidence, leading to greater autonomy and increased productivity (Walls, 2019). This flexible leadership approach has proven highly effective in addressing the diverse needs and challenges within our organization.
Furthermore, the Transactional Leadership Theory has been prevalent in my organization. This theory focuses on setting clear expectations, rewarding performance, and addressing deviations from established standards. While this approach may be effective in certain situations, I have observed that relying solely on transactional leadership can lead to a lack of employee engagement and creativity. It often emphasizes compliance rather than fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. Therefore, a combination of transactional and transformational leadership is crucial to strike a balance between meeting organizational goals and inspiring continuous improvement.
References
Collins, E., Owen, P., Digan, J., & Dunn, F. (2019). Applying transformational leadership in nursing practice. Nursing Standard, 35(5), 59-66. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns.2019.e11408
Walls, E. (2019). The value of situational leadership. Community practitioner: the journal of the Community Practitioners’& Health Visitors’ Association, 92(2), 31-33.