Are you a nurse leader, or do you aspire to be one? Did you realize that there are numerous leadership styles applicable to nursing? Perhaps you or others have questioned, “What are the various leadership styles in nursing?” In this article, you will learn what leadership style entails, why nurse leaders need to create a leadership style, and the eight leadership styles in nursing, including their advantages, cons, and examples.
What Is a Leadership Style in Nursing?
Styles of leadership in nursing refer to the qualities and behaviors of a nurse leader when managing, directing, leading, and motivating their teams. Leadership styles are categorizations of how leaders in management roles conduct themselves.
5 Reasons Why Developing Leadership Styles in professional nursing Is Important
Even in healthcare, leadership styles and their significance are frequently misinterpreted. Developing leadership styles in nursing is significant for several reasons. Consider the following reasons why learning and developing your leadership style is advantageous.
- Leadership effectiveness is related to improved patient outcomes.
- When nursing teams have great leaders, employees are generally happier, fostering a climate conducive to safe and efficient patient care.
- Nurses who work with nurse leaders who have built or developed a leadership style understand what is expected of them and what to anticipate from their leaders.
- Developing a leadership style in nursing is a means of holding oneself accountable for the role and displaying your commitment to the team’s success to others.
- The various nurse leadership styles contribute to decreased stress, team cohesion, and self-efficacy within the nursing team.
What are the different leadership styles in nursing
The following are the eight main leadership styles in nursing, including the benefits and downsides of each, the traits of leaders who employ these styles, and real-world instances.
1. Democratic Leadership
About the Style:
In nursing, democratic leadership is one of the most prevalent and effective leadership styles. This form of nursing leadership focuses on promoting team member participation in decision-making. However, although the democratic nurse leader takes into account the thoughts and opinions of the team, she ultimately makes the decisions.
Pros:
In nursing, democratic leadership promotes information exchange and open communication among team members and leaders. Democratic leadership in nursing demonstrates that the leader values the opinions and suggestions of team members. Integrity and responsibility are a top priority in democratic nursing leadership, one of its greatest qualities. Consequently, team members build high confidence in their nurse leader.
Cons:
There are advantages and downsides to utilizing a democratic leadership style in nursing. As a result of valuing their team members’ perspectives, democratic nurse leaders may delay decision-making, which could have negative repercussions, such as poor patient outcomes. Leaders are compelled to make judgments based on their knowledge and experience if team members cannot achieve a consensus over workplace difficulties or demands. Sadly, this might result in team members feeling their thoughts were discounted or ignored.
2. Transformational Leadership
About the Style:
Transformation leadership is one of the leadership styles in nursing that seeks to transform the workplace and foster success, as the name suggests. Transformational nurse leaders are noted for fostering work environments characterized by increased employer engagement, high job satisfaction rates, positive team morale, and outstanding job performance. Many healthcare organizations adopting this leadership style experience increased employee satisfaction, which has been connected to increased treatment efficiency and better patient outcomes.
Pros:
Transformational nurse leadership fosters a professional and courteous rapport between workers and the leader. This leadership encourages employees to perform well and share their ideas for enhancing the work environment and patient outcomes. It also assists leaders in achieving departmental objectives.
Cons:
Transformational leadership provides several possible benefits. However, like with other nursing leadership styles, there is the potential for bad outcomes, especially if the leader is inconsistent. The possibility of success is diminished if transformational nurse leaders do not maintain open communication channels among their teams. Transformational nurse leaders must sell the vision of what they hope to achieve and motivate their team to strive toward those objectives. If a leader does not believe in the moral propriety of a task or objective, they will likely not pursue it. Transformational nurse leaders are noted for fostering an optimistic environment that fosters team positivity. While this is good, employees can experience burnout if extreme deadlines or high levels of consistent output are demanded.
3. Autocratic Leadership (a.k.a. Authoritarian Leadership)
About the Style:
When we hear the word authoritarian, we frequently have negative thoughts or emotions. However, this leadership style in nursing can yield positive outcomes when applied effectively. Leaders in the nursing profession who are autocratic place a great emphasis on controlling events and team members. There is a clear distinction between the roles of leaders and team members under this leadership style.
Pros:
When a situation calls for swift or decisive action, autocratic/authoritarian leadership might be advantageous in nursing. This form of leadership can be highly effective in groups when leadership is scarce because autocratic leaders know how to assume control. A further advantage of autocratic leadership in nursing is that team members feel less pressure to participate in decision-making since they are certain their leader will manage the situation. Autocratic leadership in nursing provides team structure by assigning tasks, deadlines, and norms to each team member.
Cons:
Some evidence indicates that under autocratic nursing leadership, creative decision-making is diminished. In some instances, autocratic leadership can generate hostile and dysfunctional work situations in which team members acquire negative attitudes toward their nursing leader. In nursing, autocratic leadership styles may have a negative effect on employee morale, leading to disgruntled team members.
4. Laissez-faire Leadership/ Delegative Leadership
About the Style:
The laissez-faire leadership style is one of the most permissive nursing leadership styles. Laissez-faire is a French word that translates to “let it be.” A hands-off approach characterizes this style of leadership. Laissez-faire nurse leaders provide necessary skills and equipment to their teammates but leave decision-making and problem-solving in the hands of individual members.
Pros:
The Laissez-faire leadership style in nursing offers strengths comparable to those of other leadership styles. Laissez-faire-style nurse leaders encourage innovation among team members instead of expecting team members to have identical thoughts and approaches. With this leadership style’s enhanced delegating, team members have more possibilities to develop their talents. Members of the team are encouraged to achieve personal and professional development. Nurse leaders who employ a laissez-faire leadership style have more time to plan and supervise their teams.
Cons:
If improperly executed, the laissez-faire leadership paradigm can be detrimental. In some instances, this form of leadership might weaken the standing of nurse leaders. Nurse leaders fail to assign tasks to the most skilled and experienced team members. The laissez-faire style of leadership can reduce accountability and output. Even when team members are granted greater autonomy, there is no assurance that they will continue to be productive. When leaders are absent or monitoring is insufficient, some team members may slack off on the job, which can severely affect patient outcomes and team cohesion.
5. Servant Leadership
About the Style:
In nursing, servant leadership is one of the leadership styles that emphasizes being a servant first. The servant-leader mentality differs significantly from the leader-servant mentality. The priorities of servant nurse leaders are their teams and the people their teams serve. Provide team members with the resources, relationships, and competencies they need to accomplish their duties to the best of their abilities. They strive to see the personal and professional growth of their team members. Although the servant nurse leader has the authority to make decisions and does so, these leaders cherish the thoughts and ideas of their team members and involve them as much as possible in decision-making.
Pros:
Typically, nurses who practice servant leadership listen attentively, have empathy for others, comprehend problems, and put others before themselves. In addition, these nurse leaders are renowned for encouraging and supporting their teams to enhance excellent work performance. The servant leadership style increases trust and employee morale, resulting in a more favorable work atmosphere and enhanced employee job performance.
Cons:
Developing good relationships between leaders and their teams is essential for servant leadership. One drawback of the servant leadership approach to nursing is that it takes time to create and mature strong relationships. In addition, servant nurse leadership emphasizes developing each team member, causing the team to lose sight of its professional objectives. One of the most significant disadvantages of servant nursing leadership is that it might impair employee motivation. A high level of team motivation characterizes initial servant nurse leadership because team members feel valued. However, when nurse leaders must tackle issues or problems, it can offend certain team members and lower their motivation.
6. Bureaucratic Leadership
About the Style:
The foundation of bureaucratic leadership is a well-defined chain of command, team member compliance with rules, and stringent regulations. To influence team members, nurse leaders who adhere to this method rely on their position in the hierarchy of duties. This style of leadership is characterized by adherence to predetermined procedures and rules.
Pros:
Bureaucratic leadership offers numerous benefits. There are clear duties, expectations, and responsibilities; job security and outcomes are more stable; and bias is removed from the equation, to name a few of the most frequently cited advantages of this leadership style in nursing.
Cons:
There are pros and cons when selecting bureaucratic leadership styles in nursing. In bureaucratic leadership cultures, for instance, everything must pass through a chain of command, which may delay the completion of work. This leadership style does not promote professional or personal development nor stimulate collaboration and interprofessional team building. Many employees who work for bureaucratic nurse managers feel that their freedom to innovate, think independently, and be creative is hampered.
7. Transactional Leadership
About the Style:
In nursing, transactional leadership is a style of leadership based on a structure of performance-based rewards and punishments. For instance, the transactional nurse leader may commend an employee for a well-done job. Alternatively, if the team member/employee misses too many days of work without a good reason, a transactional leader may assign the nurse to a part of the institution where they would like not to work.
Pros:
The most apparent advantage of the transactional leadership style in nursing is that high-performing team members are rewarded. This leadership provides clearly defined rewards and punishments, so team members know what is expected of them and how the leader will respond to their performance. Nurse leaders seek to maintain structure and order when transactional leadership is present, disregarding anything that undermines their team’s predictability and productivity.
Cons:
Some individuals are driven by rewards, while others are not. When employees perceive that the only motivation to remain with a company is the possibility of receiving a reward, they may be more likely to pursue alternative possibilities, resulting in increased employee turnover rates. In transactional leadership situations, employees are aware of their responsibilities. Consequently, nurse leaders frequently assign responsibility to team members who fail to reach objectives. Perhaps the greatest drawback of transactional leadership is that growth and motivation are not common focuses for this style of nurse leader. They frequently prioritize results and metrics over opportunities to assist team members in developing.
8. Charismatic Leadership
About the Style:
In nursing, charismatic leadership is a leadership style centered on strong communication skills, charisma, and persuasion. Charismatic nurse leaders are enthusiastic and have strong convictions about their work. They can effortlessly instill the same enthusiasm and convictions in others due to their outstanding charisma. Typically, this style of nurse leader evokes powerful emotions in team members, inspiring action, devotion, and problem-solving skills.
Pros:
In nursing, charismatic leadership can be a highly effective strategy. It stimulates teams and optimizes each member’s skills. Among the advantages of this form of nursing, leadership is a dedication to the organization’s objective, strong motivational elements that encourage positive outcomes, team members who feel their contribution is valued, and leaders who support their aims. There is no room for egos or self-serving behavior, and mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities, further benefiting the charismatic leadership style.
Cons:
As with other leadership styles in nursing, the charismatic leadership style has some downsides. If they are not careful, charismatic nurse leaders might create the appearance of indispensability. Some charismatic nurse leaders become so caught up in their adoration that they feel invincible, which may lead to unethical conduct. In addition, some nurse leaders who employ this approach may believe that their opinions are the only ones that matter and may not appreciate the input of others, particularly subordinates.
Ways to determine which type of leadership style in nursing Is Right for You
Not everyone is qualified for a position of leadership. Those who are offered leadership positions frequently ponder the optimal leadership style. As outlined in this article, there are a variety of leadership styles in nursing. If you are a nurse leader or anticipate leading teams in the future, you may ask how to choose which leadership style in nursing best suits you. First, it is important to recognize that some individuals adhere to a single leadership style while others exhibit features of multiple styles. You may already have preferences for specific nurse leadership styles, or you may be seeking solutions. Here are a few techniques to assess which style may suit you best.
1. Identify your strengths.
To become a good nursing leader, you must be willing to do an introspective examination. Identifying your talents is a wonderful place to begin if you want to choose one of the transformational leadership styles in nursing. Consider your strengths, such as encouraging and inspiring others, leading by example, and supervising projects and people. When you identify your talents, you may analyze the various leadership styles and pick one that aligns with your goals for the position.
2. Identify your weaknesses.
To be a good nursing leader, you must also be aware of your flaws. Once you have identified your weaker areas, you can determine how they may impact your leadership role. Leaders in the nursing profession who are prepared to be open about their weaknesses and work to overcome them motivate others to improve themselves, strengthening the entire team.
3. Know your personality traits.
Knowing your personality features and how they pertain to each leadership style is one of the greatest ways to discover which leadership style in nursing is ideal for you. What are your most defining qualities? How do you demonstrate these qualities? When you identify your personality qualities, you can better evaluate how those attributes will help you lead a team effectively and which leadership style best fits your personality.
4. Consider what you value personally and professionally.
Our values have a direct effect on our actions. Your reputation is founded on the characteristics that you hold dear. Be forthright with yourself regarding your values and beliefs, and be willing to communicate them with others.
5. Determine your ability to delegate.
It is sometimes challenging to relinquish control and allow others to assume responsibility. Consider whether it is simple for you to delegate responsibilities or if you prefer to do things yourself as you attempt to determine your nursing leadership style. Remember that the desire to complete tasks is not inherently negative, but no one can accomplish everything on their own. That is the nice thing about nursing teams. Effective nurse leaders know what to assign and who make it easier to achieve objectives, which benefits patients, the healthcare team, and the organization.
6. Observe other leaders.
I was forced to study home economics when I was in the tenth grade. I recall that my teacher, Ms. Hunt, lectured about family influences. She informed our students, “Whether you like it or not, your parents will always exert some control over you. You either grow up desiring to be exactly like them or desiring to be the exact opposite.” While I recognize that there is likely some ambiguity in the situation, the premise of what she stated made sense then and still does. We learn everything by observing others, including our leadership qualities. Observing other leaders can teach you a great deal about the leadership styles in nursing that best suit you. Do you see qualities you like or dislike? If so, what would you do differently or the same?
7. Ask for feedback from your leaders and subordinates.
Obtaining feedback from your superiors might provide useful insight into habits you may have exhibited but were unaware of. Although it may feel awkward to solicit input from subordinates, it is feasible to do so without making anyone uncomfortable. You may design a survey for team members to complete anonymously, including a section for them to offer ideas or requests. The greatest lessons we may learn about being good nurse leaders come from those under our supervision.
Can You Develop Your Own Unique Leadership and management Styles in Nursing?
In nursing, it is possible to build one’s leadership style. Take time for self-reflection and actively seek growth and learning opportunities. Find aspects of each leadership style that appeal to you and combine them to form your leadership style.
5 Strategies to Help Develop Your Own Unique Leadership Style in Nursing
It is vital to realize that you do not have to be perfect while you improve your leadership skills and style. In nursing, there are numerous leadership styles. You can locate a leadership style that matches your personality, character qualities, and goals and adopt it, or you can find elements that are important to you and establish your distinctive leadership style. The following ideas will assist you in developing your leadership style in nursing.
1. Practice personal discipline.
Good nurse leaders must study and practice personal and professional discipline. When you demonstrate discipline, you inspire others to be disciplined, making it simpler to manage a team.
2. Learn about and develop situational awareness.
Situational awareness is the perception of all environmental factors, comprehension of their significance, and how they may affect others. Simply said, situational awareness is being aware of your surroundings. You can perceive the larger picture and foresee potential obstacles or problems when cultivating situational awareness.
3. Do not be afraid to follow.
When appropriate, a nurse leader’s willingness to follow others is beneficial. Follow-through is not always simple, but the skill and willingness indicate teamwork with others.
4. Learn to resolve conflicts.
Regardless of how excellent your team is, if you work with them for long enough, disagreements will arise. Strong nurse leaders can identify problems and solve them before they escalate.
5. Never stop learning.
Effective nurse leaders recognize and embrace the importance of ongoing education. When you acquire new knowledge, you maintain your talents and mental acuity. When employees observe leaders learning, they strive to learn and develop themselves.
My Final Thoughts
If you are a nurse leader or aspire to become one, it is natural to wonder, “What are the different leadership styles in nursing?” Finding a leadership style that aligns with your personality and objectives is crucial to your success as a nurse leader. The eight types of nursing leadership styles in nursing management described in this article are examples of leadership styles that may be of interest to you. Nursing teams seek empathetic leaders for their patients and colleagues. Whether you identify with and choose one of these styles or construct your own, it is essential to be genuine.
