Here is how to develop as a LEADER

Developing as a LEADER throughout your career.....

"Emergence as a leader is a developmental leaning process in which capacities, insights, and skills gained through one experience or at one level serve as the basis for further growth; this leaders go through stages in their development" (Grossman & Valiga, 2009, p.158). 
Leadership is a lifelong process.   It is not something that is inherited.  Leadership needs to be learned and continuously improved or altered.  As our lives change and evolve, our leadership will be altered, and our skills will be refined, renewed and further developed (Grossman & Valiga, 2009). 

Here are ways to enhance your leadership.......

1. Participate in lectures, discussions, or formal coursework on leadership while in school.
2. Getting involved in role-playing and simulations even though they are STRESSFUL.
3. Observe others who are successful leaders.
4. Getting first hand experience- on the job training.
5. Constantly reflecting and performing self-assessments to make changes as needed.
6. Getting feedback from others.

These are great tips to enhance leadership.  One that really caught my attention was getting involved in SIMULATION.  Throughout nursing school we have done numerous simulations.  No matter how many we have done they are still stressful and anxiety provoking. This being said, I think we gain a lot of knowledge and leadership skills. 

Observing others who are successful leaders will help us as new nurses enhance our leadership skills and become more confident.  We can also learn what works and does not work as a leader!

"The development of leadership knowledge and skills throughout your career requires purposeful, goal directed action; honest, extensive self-assessment; a willingness to ask for assistance or guidance; and willingness to accept help or guidance when it is offered" (Grossman & Valiga, 2009, p.14).

“Eighty nine percent of what people learn comes

from what they see, ten percent from what

they hear, and one percent from other senses.

Thus, true leaders need to be consistent in

words and in action and behavior” (Maxwell, 1993).

So I encourage YOU to be aware of what kind of leader YOU want to be and support others to be successful leaders!

 

Grossman, S. & Valiga, T. (2009). The new leadership challenge: creating the future of nursing. F.A. Davis Company. Philadelphia, PA.

Maxwell, J. (1993). Developing the leader within you. Success Strategies. 75(74), 1-6. Retrieved from http://www.people.vcu.edu/~nlortiz/SuccessSummaryDLWU.pdf