Overview
This lecture introduces key concepts of nursing leadership and management, focusing on definitions, major leadership theories, types of leadership, and sources of power for nurse leaders.
Leadership vs. Management
- Leadership is the process of motivating people to achieve goals.
- Management is a set of interrelated processes to achieve organizational objectives.
- Leaders motivate followers to do the right things; managers ensure things are done right.
- Leaders are change agents, focus on the future, and ask "why"; managers maintain stability, focus on the present, and ask "who," "what," and "how."
- Leaders value potential and expertise; managers value performance in assigned roles.
Major Theories of Leadership
- Great Man Theory (Aristotle): Leaders are born, not made; leadership is innate.
- Trait Theory (J.M. Burns): Leadership traits can be inherited but must be developed through learning.
- Charismatic Theory: Leaders inspire emotional commitment from followers through personal charisma.
- Situational Theory (Mary Parker Follett, Hershey & Blanchard): Leadership styles must adapt to specific situations; no single best style.
- Contingency Theory (Fred Fiedler): Effectiveness of leadership depends on the situation.
- Path-Goal Theory (House): Leaders remove obstacles to goals and reward followers appropriately.
- Transactional Theory (Burns): Leadership is based on mutual agreements and contingent rewards.
- Transformational Theory (Heinrich von Preyer): Leaders focus on intellectual and personal development of followers.
- Servant Leadership (Greenleaf): Leaders model the behaviors they expect from followers.
- Result-Based Leadership (Jack Welch): Leaders simplify and improve practices based on results.
Types of Leadership
- Autocratic (Dictatorial): Leader makes decisions alone; best in emergencies.
- Democratic (Participative): Leader facilitates group decision-making; everyone’s input is valued.
- Laissez-Faire (Free Reign): No specific leader; everyone is a follower, often leading to confusion.
- Multicratic (Situational): Leader adapts style based on the situation, combining multiple methods.
Sources of Power for Leaders
- Connection Power (Referent): Power due to relationships with influential people.
- Coercive Power: Power based on fear or threat.
- Legitimate Power: Power from official position, appointment, or policies.
- Information Power: Power from possessing valuable information or data.
- Personal Power: Power from charisma or personal qualities.
- Expert Power: Power from knowledge or specialized skills.
- Reward Power: Power to distribute rewards or valued benefits.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Leadership — Motivating people towards a goal.
- Management — Coordinating processes to achieve objectives.
- Autocratic Leadership — Decision-making centered on the leader.
- Democratic Leadership — Shared decision-making with group input.
- Laissez-Faire Leadership — Passive, non-directive leadership style.
- Multicratic Leadership — Flexible, situational leadership approach.
- Coercive Power — Influence through fear or threat.
- Legitimate Power — Authority from assigned role or position.
- Expert Power — Influence based on expertise or knowledge.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize the seven sources of leader power (CoCo-LIPER: Connection, Coercive, Legitimate, Information, Personal, Expert, Reward).
- Prepare to discuss real-life examples of each leadership type in nursing practice.
- Read further materials on leadership and management theories if required by the syllabus.