Principles of Leadership

Leadership is the ability to inspire others to achieve a desired outcome (Assessment Technologies Institute, 2019, p. 3). Leadership is required when the unknown presents itself, necessitating the use of principles to improvise solutions and help others cope, thrive, and function in the situation. An example of leadership is during a natural disaster such as a hurricane. Clinical procedures have to be adapted to a patient’s physical and emotional challenges (Yoder-Wise, 2018). Managing is the ability of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling others in situations where the outcomes are known or preestablished, where one or more ways of performing have been agreed on based on evidence. An example of managing is implementing care routines for patients (Yoder-Wise, 2018). Following is an active, creative role that influences leaders and managers. Each group member contributes optimally in tandem with other group members to achiever clinical or organizational outcomes. All members are expected to fully participate, using their knowledge, skills, and experience to help deal with complex issues. An example of followership is by completing readings (Yoder-Wise, 2018). I feel that these are not fixed positions because a nurse may assume all three roles in any given time. At the beginning of the shift the nurse may function as a manager to ensure that patient care assignments are distributed, report received, and adequate supplies are ordered. Later on, the nurse may lead to inspiring a colleague to discuss end-of-life care with a particularly anxious family. During a facility-wide committee meeting, the nurse may show followership as the group plans to implement a new fall risk assessment (Yoder-Wise, 2018). There are many times that nurses have to become leaders, followers, or managers to help patients and the organization be successful.