Introduction
Leadership is an important aspect of nursing practice as it helps provide direction and motivation to nurses and other healthcare team members. Various leadership theories have been formulated throughout the years, each with its own positive and adverse aspects. In this essay, two of these theories, transformational leadership, and servant leadership, will be compared and discussed in terms of how they can be applied in nursing practice.
Main Body
Transformational leadership focuses on encouraging and stimulating followers to reach their maximum potential. It is built upon the concept that leaders must have a vision for the future and be able to motivate and inspire their followers to strive for that vision (Scammell et al., 2020). Transformational leadership is instrumental in nursing practice, as it can aid in motivating and engaging nurses in their work. It can also create an environment of trust and support between nurses and other representatives of the healthcare team. The strengths of transformational leadership are associated with the ability to engage and motivate followers, the focus on vision and goals, and a unique emphasis on communication and trust. However, the weaknesses of this theory include its need for more emphasis on the individual needs of followers, its potential to be overly authoritarian, and its reliance on charismatic leadership.
Servant leadership, in turn, is an approach to management that emphasizes addressing the needs and expectations of followers, putting them first, and creating an environment in which everyone can thrive. The strengths of servant leadership include its focus on the individual needs of followers, its emphasis on alliances and positive teamwork, and its ability to create an environment of trust and care (Scammell et al., 2020). The weaknesses of this theory include its potential to be overly passive and its need for more focus on vision and goals.
Conclusion
Both transformational and servant leadership have strengths and weaknesses, but both can be applied effectively in nursing practice. Transformational leadership can motivate and engage nurses, whereas servant leadership can foster trust and support. Ultimately, the nurse must decide which leadership style is most appropriate for their practice.
Reference
Scammell, J. M. E., Apostolo, J. L. A., Bianchi, M., Costa, R. D. P., Jack, K., Luiking, M. L., & Nilsson, S. (2020). Learning to lead: A scoping review of undergraduate nurse education. Journal of Nursing Management, 28(3), 756-765.