Importance of Creative Leadership in Nursing

Explore Ideas and theories of about Leadership and Management in Healthcare.

Due to the ever changing situations in the healthcare setting, nurse leaders are continuously working hard to empower themselves and those under their leadership to meet the organizational and managerial needs of their entities. The need to develop new management and leadership approaches and methods as necessitated by emergence of new challenges (Zydziunaite, 2012). With prior knowledge that there is no single specific approach to managing healthcare, several crucial theories stemming to organizational management are consulted by leaders in hospitals and other healthcare providing entities.  “…with the complexities of modern organizations, one particular leadership style cannot be the only model followed regardless of the situation” (Mannix, Wikes & Daly, 2015, p 359). Various leadership and management theories and styles are therefore commonly implemented by nurse leaders in their scope of practice as discussed henceforth in details.

Before digging deep into the various leadership theories, it is crucial to comment that nurses in leadership positions ought to emulate creative leadership. This style of leading does not only involve imitation of already effected actions but calls for a nurse to invent new solutions to challenges that come up during daily undertakings (NishthaMalik, 2016). Simultaneously, relevant concepts and theories should be implemented during problem solving by use of imaginations and skills. Creative nursing leadership has been made a necessity by the emerging environmental trends. As the world in general as well as nursing situations increase their complexity levels, so should a nurse leader. To become a creative nurse leader therefore, it is of great significance for one to be aware of the trends in the healthcare field that possess a possibility to affect one’s practice. Some of these trends are; Globalization, information technology advancements, focus on quality and expansion in service-based institutions (Stanley, 2016). To effectively face the trends, a nurse leader ought to be; a problem solver, change maker, good communicator, technology master as well as a team player.

The first theory for nurse leadership is Role theory. The basic assumption of this theory is that people will define duties for others and for themselves by basing on social reading and learning (Taylor & Webster-Henderson, 2016). Such individuals will also develop expectations on the roles to be played by them and by others. In addition to directing others to act within expectations of their roles, such leaders also act within their adopted roles. Within a healthcare setting, both informal and formal information regarding leadership culture, values, modelling and training usually shape behaviors and expectations. Role conflict is bound to occur whenever behaviors do not match expectations (Crowell, 2015). For example, when a nurse strives to adopt the role of the head nurse or a student nurse foregoes his/her role to become a staff nurse, conflict will without doubt occur until every individual occupies their own position.

Role Theory in Healthcare Leadership

In 1939, a psychologist group led by Lewin based its theory on leadership styles and subsequently attributed leaders with three styles. Autocratic leaders have a tendency of arriving at the final decision without consultations. Lewin however noted that this style resulted to high discontent levels that could eventually lead to revolutions. In health care settings, this style occurs whenever leaders decide to effect change prior to consulting other staff. Though revolution cannot occur, it could result to undercover retaliation and low morale (Kaiser, 2016). Democratic leaders on the other hand do not arrive to any decision prior to consulting other people. This style plays a significant role in boosting the morale of subordinate nurses and other staff in a healthcare setting (McKeown & Carey, 2015). Lastly, Lewin stated that laissez-faire leaders are involved in decision making on rare occasions as they usually have delegated the decision making authority to subordinates undertaking different roles with no central coordination.

Benevolent authoritative style is also applicable in nursing leadership. Here, nurse leaders are concerned about the well-being of their subordinates but maintains a benevolent type of dictatorship (Forman, 2010). Commendable performance is appraised and rewards which could be verbal or non-verbal are dispensed. The leader however retains the supreme decision making authority while at the same time sugarcoating information deemed vital. Martha for example is a nurse leader who displays high levels of concern to her staff. At one point however, the administration decided to change the appraisal method but Martha sugarcoated the information relayed to her staff by telling them that it would be just a minor change that would be to their benefit. However, upon trying the new system, Martha’s staff realized that it called for more efforts and time with no additional compensation. Majority were angry while several of them resolved to quitting their jobs. Consultative leadership style on the other hand entails a nurse leader being the supreme decision maker but arrives at final decisions based on views and opinions from subordinates and other staff (Harris & Roussel, 2010).

Another style is participative leadership. A participative leader makes use of various methods of participation and subsequently engages people in decision making processes while simultaneously ensuring high levels of coordination prevail amongst various staff members (Forman, 2010). Based on the type of decision being made, variations in the levels of participation may occur to incorporate the relevant parties. The major effect that this style could impact on the staff is that, it could yield feelings of cynicism and betrayal in instances where leaders asks for opinions and fails to implement them. In 1999 however, Blanchard and Hersey realized that use of participatory leadership was not an adequate remedy to all problems. They therefore came up with the idea that situational leadership could effectively work in healthcare setting to handle some situations. However, this leadership style should be adapted basing on staff’s level of maturity/development, competence and output.

Theory of Leadership Styles: Autocratic, Democratic, and Laissez-faire

There is also a variety of management theories applicable in clinical leadership. Various situations require implementation of different theories. Fredrick Herzberg who was a clinical psychologist is attributed to the initial coining of Herzberg’s Motivational Theory. He found out that job contentedness or dissatisfaction have their own dynamics and are results of different dynamics. He further identified a number of factors known as “motivators” that motivate staff whereas others could lead to dissatisfaction.  Recognition, nature of the work, responsibilities assigned, personal growth and achievements hit are examples of such motivators (Murray, 2017). He additionally identified a certain environmental factors such as warmth, food, safety and shelter. Collectively, the fore mentioned are termed as ‘Hygiene factors.’ Nurse leaders performing managerial duties ought to critically analyze the situation and the staff available to handle the situation and therefore avail the relevant motivational factors.

Further on, psychologists and sociologists studied staff behavior and developed the Behavioral science approach to management to aid in predicting personnel behavior in the work place. Five factors were identified as crucial to effect success of the approach. Participative management, communication, leadership, group dynamics and motivation are the factors (Rigolosi, 2012). In a healthcare setting, this approach aids in securing efficient patient centered care, achievement of organizational goals as well as improving the overall staff performance. Chris Argyris on the on the hand coined Argyri’s theory of humanistic and democratic values. It was his postulation that bureaucracy leads to mistrustful, shallow and poor relationships.

In the health care setting, nurse leaders on management positions should ensure that democratic and humanistic values are implemented. Such leaders should also treat people with due respect while at the same time providing staff with an opportunity to develop their potential to the maximum. They should also implement rational, logical and clear communication (Murray, 2017). It is worth noting that there is reduction in efficiency whenever staff behaviors are dominated by emotions. On the contrary, when behaviors are controllable, discussible and conscious, effectiveness also increases. By availing the fore mentioned conditions, nurse leader will have played a significant role in increasing flexibility, intergroup cooperation as well as interpersonal competence.

Lastly, McClelland’s Achievement Motivation Theory is also applicable in clinical leadership. It is however applicable for staff who are achievement oriented. Such people hold a strong belief that implementation of high standards of effort and abilities can positively influence the nature of outcomes (Bach & Ellis, 2011). Such individuals therefore prefer moderate levels of risk. Money is also viewed by such individuals as a means of comparison with others as well as evaluating their progress. Upon completion of the task(s) assigned, they also require concrete feedback to measure their results. Nurse leaders should therefore pay close attention to such staff as they are continuously striving to perfect their ways of undertaking their tasks and their work always lead to customer satisfaction as well quality of care provided to patients.

From all the above discussions, it has been clearly established that there is no single leadership style that can be used constantly throughout. The same case applies for leadership theories to be implemented by nurse leaders in the course of their practice. Emergence of new challenges in hospitals or other healthcare settings calls for use of different styles and theories. Management theories to be used in the course of managerial duties also varies. It is completely impossible to implement one management theory to all situations since situations vary in terms of requirements. While evaluating the different styles and theories and selecting the one to use, it is critical for a nurse leader to put into consideration the people being led.

References

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Harris, J. L., & Roussel, L. (2010). Initiating and Sustaining the Clinical Nurse Leader Role: A Practical Guide. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

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Stanley, D. (2016). Clinical Leadership in Nursing and Healthcare: Values Into Action (illustrated, reprint ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Taylor, R., & Webster-Henderson, B. (2016). The Essentials of Nursing Leadership. SAGE.

Zydziunaite, V. (2012, May 25). Challenges and Issues in Nursing Leadership. Journal of Nursing & Care. Retrieved July 26, 2018, from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/challenges-and-issues-in-nursing-leadership-2167-1168.1000e105.php?aid=6559

Mannix, J., Wilkies, L., & Daly,J. (2015). Aesthetic Leadership: Its Place in the Clinical World. Mental Health Nursing, 36(5), 357-361