Did you know there are more than 200 definitions of leadership? You may have heard the terms servant leadership, quantum leadership, transactional leadership, and transformational leadership, to name a few. Studies abound examining all types of leadership in students, faculty, clinicians, and administrators. So what does leadership mean to you?

For me, the leadership journey was bumpy. Overcoming shyness did not come easy to me. However, role modeling and mentoring did, as I found out when I was a preceptor orienting newcomers to the ICU. You can read about and examine leadership theories, but behaviors modeled by others are truly your best teachers. As I often advise my students, take the best from each nurse you work with and incorporate those traits into your own professional nursing practice. The same can be said of leadership.

Modeling leadership and mentoring others to become leaders can take many paths. Perhaps someone doesn’t know how to become a leader. Often, putting people into leadership positions and then mentoring them enable them to “grow” into the position. In the mentoring process, we’re able to identify additional contributions he or she might make.

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I have been very fortunate in my leadership journey to have help from the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI)—first as a chapter officer and then as a regional committee leader. Regional coordinators who mentored and encouraged me have served as excellent role models. I shared my first paper in a podium presentation at an STTI biennial convention, and our wonderful members received it warmly. The experience gave me confidence to submit and present papers at other STTI events, and I even became an abstract reviewer for STTI conferences.

So, look around you. I bet there is someone just waiting to be mentored—someone who may be right where you were when you started your leadership journey. Reach out. Role model. Mentor. RNL

Editor’s note: Janice Jones will present “Benefits and Challenges of MS/Administration Students in Practicums Where Employed" on Tuesday, 31 October, at the 44th Biennial Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. See the Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e- Repository for additional information.

Janice M. Jones, PhD, RN, CNS, is clinical professor and program coordinator, MS Nursing Leadership and Health Care Systems, University of Buffalo School of Nursing, Buffalo, New York, USA.

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