Introduction
Leadership is a role that we have all had a chance to experience at a certain stage in our lives. I can define leadership as the assumption of responsibility over a group of people or a team to help achieve set goals. Moreover, leadership can be intuitive or something learned over time through experiences. Many factors can make a leader be termed as good or bad. At first, I adopted a transactional style of leadership which was good result-wise and used to achieve at the task level. However, many of my team members were not happy and exhaustion levels were very high. Many claimed that the organization was not valuing them individually which lead to numerous transfers and absenteeism. Thus there was a reason to rethink my leadership style and adopt the one style that treats employees as the most valuable assets. Therefore, I needed to adopt the transformational style of leadership which is the most appropriate in mitigating the burn of rapid change and high tension in the workplace.
Importance of Leadership Strategy
Having a leadership strategy is crucial both for personal growth and the organization’s success. An excellent leadership style will bring about efficiency and productivity. Apart from management, there is a good reason why every employee must have a personal leadership style. When carrying out delegated duties one can work within set budgets for both money wise and resources wisely and thus, productivity is achieved. As Abid et al. (2021) state, organizations must build leadership in the workplace and especially in health care where it influences health outcomes. A good leadership strategy also inspires and motivates not just the team but also in a personal capacity. Every leadership strategy is aimed at achieving the final results of the set goals of the organization. Ultimately, better results are guaranteed provided there is a proper leadership strategy both for the management and individuals.
Adopting a Transformational Leadership Style
Every self-made leader is a blend of both personal leadership traits and acquired qualities of other leadership styles. Being a visionary leader, a good communicator and a motivator are some of my traits that I know blend well with the transformative style of leadership. According to Para-González et al. (2018), the transformational style of leadership is pillared by explicit communication of goals leading through a vision and inspiration. The main idea behind this style of leadership is to inspire a change of beliefs and mindset to ensure that every goal is achievable. Thus, the maximization of human resources will be reached and productivity levels achieved. The other reason I blended my leadership style with that of transformational leadership is its focus on individual strengths and weaknesses. Looking at the characteristics of the transformation style of leadership will help frame an action plan for its implementation.
Being Self-managed
For a transformational leadership style, someone has to be capable of self-management. They necessarily don’t need a blueprint to follow or be advised on what to do. They take action in their hands, make their priorities known, lay down a plan to follow, and take accountability for the outcomes of their decision. Abid et al. (2020) state that to lead you require self-influence and the ability to strategize. This is one style of leadership that defines why most transformational leaders have an edge over others since they take big risks. Most teams are effective when they have such leadership in place. Moreover, transformational leaders tend to do what they love and their values are mostly aligned with those of the organization. Therefore, there is a high possibility of being successful because management first begins from within.
Keeping Egos on Check
One of the most important characteristics of transformational leadership is keeping egos in check. Having so much ego can often stop someone from learning and growing because you will not accommodate the views and opinions of others. The ego might be a blockage towards gaining much knowledge from others which might prove crucial in the decision-making process. Transformational leaders always put the affairs of the team and organization first before theirs. Therefore, this means doing away with ego, being a keen listener, and incorporating the ideas of others into their vision. This also ensures job satisfaction among team members which is greatly influenced by the work environment (Boamah et al., 2018). Thus, ensuring that there is a continuity of ideas in growing their portfolio and transforming the morale of other team members.
Making Difficult and Right Decisions
Decisions are a crucial part of every leader and how you make decisions highly determines how successful your leadership will be. Transformational leaders can make difficult and right decisions. This can be achieved through rational thinking and openness to learning, which is one of the most important aspects of making the right decisions. Through experience and learning, a leader can make decisions rationally which results in innovativeness (Abid et al., 2020). They ensure that they evaluate a situation appropriately so that the necessary steps are put in place to offer the solution. For them, every situation offers a unique challenge and must be evaluated solely irrespective of the previously tried methods. In that respect, even the most difficult decisions can be arrived at rightfully. Thus, without losing sight of their values, and the organization’s goals rightful decisions are made.
Being Proactive
Being a proactive leader can be one of the biggest advantages ever seen in management. It ensures one is always a mile ahead of others and also able to foresee the future. Transformational leaders are always characterized by the reactiveness of their leadership style. Being proactive, helps them mitigate risks and avoid substantive problems when tackling issues and making early decisions. According to Fischer (2017), transformational leadership is cauterized by developing followers which can only be achieved through being proactive in all situations. The other importance of reactiveness is the ability to turn challenges into opportunities. This leadership style fosters innovativeness in such a way that the team will always be trying new methods of tackling issues rather than applying the old tested means.
Inspiring Others
There is no transformational leadership style without the aspect of inspiration in it. Most leaders who apply this style are inspirational both through their words and actions. Motivating teams is the most essential part of leadership and thus, that is the reason why transformational leadership works optimally in that respect. Through passion and charisma, inspiration is attained and transformational leadership is based on it (Martins Abelha et al., 2018). They ensure that they understand what motivates their team members and ensure that each individual feels valued and their efforts are highly regarded. Ensuring high spirits at all times is crucial in the implementation of the organization’s goals and objectives. Therefore, the transformational style of leadership excels in that aspect optimally.
Leading With a Clear Vision
Having a clear vision of how to achieve certain goals, and when they need to be achieved is essential for leaders. Transformational leadership style excels in this such that they set a vision that is realistic and achievable. Thus, this is where all characteristics of a transformational leadership style are put into practice. As Martins Abelha et al. (2018) have put it, transformational leadership is where a leader guides their followers towards a common purpose through a vision. They must mobilize the team members to ensure they enact appropriate change to ensure a solution is found. It is at this stage that effective communication skills come into play, to cultivate a sense of purpose, ensure commitment and instill a sense of belonging.
Implementation Plan
In applying transformational leadership to nursing I have to come up with a plan that is suitable and adaptive to my style. The first step will be to come up with a clear vision that is inspiring to self and other team members. To ensure that the team members are inspired I will have to build motivation to ensure they fully trust the process. There is a need to put in place a process that works to the best of the team members’ abilities, recognizing their motivating factors and ensuring their efforts are fully appreciated. Moreover, managing every step is crucial in ensuring the vision is achieved. I will see through my vision is implemented at every step, being proactive at every step to foresee the risks ahead and mitigate them. Finally, my plan will be guided by serving as the best example of my leadership style. People can adapt more to a vision that is workable and by acting as an example and leading from the front they will follow enthusiastically.
Applications in Nursing Practice
In my nursing practice, I will need to apply a transformational leadership style to fully ensure self and teams that I work with are working optimally. As Boamah et al. (2018) state, for patient safety to be guaranteed, there is a need to ensure an effective style of leadership in place. They further explain that the transformational style of leadership is capable of motivating team members to achieve and surpass organizational goals through trust and respect. To do that my plan is anchored on being passionate about what I do and letting everyone feel the energy at all levels. Communicating effectively with team members and ensuring all details are put across simply and realistically. Having a positive attitude toward work is also essential in my practice as it instills a sense of optimism not only regarding team members but patients as well. Finally, ensuring that everyone has a role to play and encouraging them to contribute towards the betterment of the team.
Conclusion
My overall style of leadership is a blend of both transformational leadership and my qualities of elaborate communication, being visionary through achievable goals, and motivating others. To lead means to inspire self and others towards the attainment of both self or group objectives. Adopting a transformational leadership style that blends well with my qualities, is the first strategy for developing my leadership style. My leadership style is implemented via a plan which revolves around 4 strategies. The steps are to create an elaborate vision, motivate the team towards trusting the vision, manage the steps in which the vision will be delivered, and finally, serve as the best role model for the team. Through that strategy, I will be able to apply my leadership style in nursing practice. Moreover, there is a need to have passion, communicate effectively, ooze a positive attitude, and encourage others to contribute.
References
Abid, G., Arya, B., Arshad, A., Ahmed, S., & Farooqi, S. (2021). Positive personality traits and self-leadership in sustainable organizations: Mediating influence of thriving and moderating role of proactive personality. Sustainable Production And Consumption, 25, 299-311.
Boamah, S., Spence Laschinger, H., Wong, C., & Clarke, S. (2018). Effect of transformational leadership on job satisfaction and patient safety outcomes. Nursing Outlook, 66(2), 180-189.
Fischer, S. (2017). Developing nurses’ transformational leadership skills. Nursing Standard, 31(51), 54-63.
Martins Abelha, D., César da Costa Carneiro, P., & Cavazotte, F. (2018). Transformational Leadership and Job Satisfaction: Assessing the Influence of Organizational Contextual Factors and Individual Characteristics. Review Of Business Management, 20(4), 516-532.
Para-González, L., Jiménez-Jiménez, D., & Martínez-Lorente, A. (2018). Exploring the mediating effects between transformational leadership and organizational performance. Employee Relations, 40(2), 412-432.