Page 18 - Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management, 5th Edition

CikguOnline
2208_Ch01_001-012.qxd 11/6/09 5:54 PM Page 5
chapter 1 | Leadership and Followership 5 CikguOnline
Followership Defined ■ If the situation worsens, enlist the support of
others on your team to seek a remedy; do not
Followership is not a passive role. On the contrary,
try to do this alone as a new graduate.
the most valuable follower is a skilled, self-directed
■ If the situation becomes intolerable, consider the
employee, one who participates actively in setting
option of transferring to another unit or seeking
the group’s direction, invests his or her time and
another position (Deutschman, 2005; Korn, 2004).
energy in the work of the group, thinks critically,
and advocates for new ideas (Grossman & Valiga,
2000). Imagine working on a client care unit where What Makes a Person a Leader?
all staff members, from the unit secretary to the
assistant nurse manager, willingly take on extra Leadership Theories
tasks without being asked (Spreitzer & Quinn, There are many different ideas about how a person
2001), come back early from coffee breaks, com- becomes a good leader. Despite years of research on
plete their charting on time, suggest ways to this subject, no one idea has emerged as the clear
improve client care, and are proud of the high qual- winner. The reason for this may be that different
ity care they provide. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to qualities and behaviors are most important in differ-
be a part of that team? ent situations. In nursing, for example, some situa-
tions require quick thinking and fast action. Others
Becoming a Better Follower
require time to figure out the best solution to a
There are a number of things you can do to become complicated problem. Different leadership qualities
a better follower: and behaviors are needed in these two instances.The
result is that there is not yet a single best answer to
■ If you discover a problem, inform your team
the question, “What makes a person a leader?”
leader or manager right away.
Consider some of the best-known leadership
■ Even better, include a suggestion in your report
theories and the many qualities and behaviors that
for solving the problem.
have been identified as those of the effective nurse
■ Freely invest your interest and energy in your
leader (Pavitt, 1999; Tappen, 2001).
work.
■ Be supportive of new ideas and new directions Trait Theories
suggested by others.
At one time or another, you have probably heard
■ When you disagree, explain why you do not
someone say,“Leaders are born,not made.”In other
support an idea or suggestion.
words, some people are natural leaders, and others
■ Listen carefully, and reflect on what your leader
are not. In reality, leadership may come more easily
or manager says.
to some than to others, but everyone can be a
■ Continue to learn as much as you can about
leader, given the necessary knowledge and skill.
your specialty area.
Research into the traits of leaders is a continuing
■ Share what you learn.
process. A 5-year study of 90 outstanding leaders
Being an effective follower will not only make you by Warren Bennis (1984) identified four common
a more valuable employee but will also increase the traits shared by all of these leaders. These traits
meaning and satisfaction that you can get from continue to hold true:
your work.
1. Management of attention. These leaders were
Most team leaders and nurse managers will
able to communicate a sense of goal or direction
respond very positively to having staff who are
to attract followers.
good followers. Occasionally you will encounter a
2. Management of meaning. These leaders created
poor leader or manager who can confuse, frustrate,
and communicated meaning with clarity and
and even distress you. Here are a few suggestions
purpose.
for handling this:
3. Management of trust. These leaders demon-
■ Avoid adopting the ineffective behaviors of this strated reliability and consistency.
individual. 4. Management of self. These leaders were able to
■ Continue to do your best work and to provide know self and work within their strengths and
leadership for the rest of the group. weaknesses (Bennis, 1984).