Servant Leadership in Nursing - Essay Example

"Servant Leadership in Nursing" is a delightful example of a paper on care.
Servant leadership entails the aspects of both leadership practices and leadership philosophies.  In this case, servant-leadership puts other people’s needs first and helping them to perform and develop effectively. The aspect of servant leadership shares power, which makes it possible to enrich the lives and well-being of other individuals (Mehrotra, 2005). Generally, servant leadership begins with the ability to serve other individuals. The consciousness of a person makes an individual have the aspiration to lead. The aspect of servant leadership is different from an individual who a leader first.

Type of leadership style

Authoritarian leadership style: Also known as the autocratic leader, the authoritarian leadership style is the type of leadership where the leader keeps strict and control of his juniors by enacting various policies and regulations for them to adhere to. The authoritarian leaders always ensure that they create a distinct relationship, which is strictly professional. Most authoritarian leaders believe indirect supervision in order to maintain a perfect environment and followership (Mehrotra, 2005).

Similarities

The main similarity between the two types of leadership is that they are leadership types whereby they can both socially influence, guide, or direct individuals towards the achievement of institutional goals or the accomplishment of a task, which is common.

Difference

The authoritarian leadership focus is usually directed towards individual behaviors towards a given institution. In most cases, authoritarian leadership tries to build the commitment levels of individuals towards the institution's objectives and mission. On the other hand, servant leadership puts more focus on the followers. In this case, the achievements of institutional objectives are usually a subordinate outcome (Mehrotra, 2005).  Generally, the extent to which a servant leader shifts the primary attention of his leadership from a given institution towards his followers differs from authoritarian leadership. Additionally, the authoritarian type of leadership is mostly strictly something, which is different from the servant type of leadership (Mehrotra, 2005).

Servant leadership and nursing (articles)

Article 1

This article will generally elaborate on the aspect of servant leadership and various management styles, which nurse leaders in healthcare institutions engage in when dealing with health care staff members. Being a nurse leader is almost similar to being a servant leader and that means that the nurse leader must at all-time be a perfect example to other individuals (O'Brien, 2011). It is always difficult or a challenging prospect to teach an individual the aspect of being a servant-leader. By working to manifest the servant-leader nurse qualities, individuals who are willing and ready will then feel the need to correspond to their own aspirations and beliefs. In most cases, they may decide to open to their own strengths and services (O'Brien, 2011). Constant repetition by the nurses within their workloads makes the nurses adopt their belief to be servant leaders and might soon abandon the bedside. Servant leadership is never a position in which fellow peers can bestow into an individual. In fact, the position can never be earned. Becoming a servant-leader nurse requires long-term transformational methodologies to approach the work and most definitely an individual’s own life (Greenleaf, 2002).

Article 2

In the modern professional environment, most research activities attain a lot of recognition with nurses and other sectors being asked to participate. In most cases, most nurses working environments are placed in such a way that they can find various difficulties to privilege research activities (Marshall, 2011). Strong and effective research leadership remains an essential aspect in helping mediate negative thoughts in relation to the nursing career and as a servant leader. Servant leadership is seen as a service-oriented approach, which takes focus on people’s values and development. Alternatively, it offers a collaborative and participatory framework that intends to build a productive and creative research community. The aspect of nursing and servant leadership encourages connectedness between patients, their families, and the health care staff. Additionally, it deepens supportive collegiality capacity and fosters a complete social learning milieu in a bid to support its followers (Marshall, 2011).

Conclusion

From the articles, it is quite evident that the aspect of servant leadership and nursing closely relate. Alternatively, nursing and the aspect of being a servant leader works. In a situation where a person wants to become a servant-leader nurse, he will require long-term transformational methodologies and commitment to approach the work. Servant leadership and nursing is not a position in which a person can be given instead, it is a calling. Nurses who always work in the environment of servant leadership tend to work in a healthy atmosphere. Alternatively, servant leadership always encourages a teamwork environment, which remains important for effective work in health care organizations.

Ways in which nursing leader would demonstrate servant leadership

Nursing leaders can demonstrate the aspect of servant leadership in various ways. In most cases, nurses’ leaders can demonstrate servant leadership by how they treat their patients. Some of the common ways in which nurse leaders demonstrate the aspect of servant leadership include; active listening of some of the concerns of junior nurses, demonstrating empathy regardless of the event or situation at the health care unit, persuasion, awareness, and conceptualization. Other aspects, which demonstrate servant leadership aspects, include stewardship, foresight, and the healing process.

Reflection

This paper is generally important especially on issues relating to institutional leadership. Additionally, this paper will have a great impact on clinical matters. In my perception as a leader, I view servant leadership as an important type of leadership as compared to the authoritarian leadership style. As an individual who seeks to be a leader in the future, I would prefer to be a servant leader.