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The Making of a Leader: A Plan for Growth

Jan 12

3 min read

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Before we delve into our subject: our thoughts are with the people of California. If you’re able, please donate to help victims of the Los Angeles wildfires through the American Red Cross or other recipient of your choice.


I had originally planned another product review (and that is still in the works), but the subject of leadership has been on my mind lately. Perhaps this is not surprising at the beginning of a new year, coupled with the fact that this year will mark my first as an entrepreneur. In many ways I am very excited for what lies ahead in 2025, but I am also apprehensive. A large part of that apprehension is self-doubt; do I have what it takes to succeed? Part of success involves the development of leadership skills; especially now, when the discipline of nursing needs leaders to help navigate the challenges faced by the field, both in the United States and abroad.


The truth is, though, I have never thought of myself as a leader.


At its core, the word “leader” refers to someone who can get things done.  The best way to lead has been a subject for debate and research for several decades.  There is no denying that leaders can have a huge impact on the groups, organizations, and even entire cultures with which they are affiliated.  Some people are fortunate enough to be natural leaders; that is, they can organize and inspire followers to achieve goals with little or no formal training in the subject of leadership per se; examples of natural leaders include Jeanne d’Arc, Nelson Mandela, and Florence Nightingale.

Natural leadership in action!

I do not think I am a natural leader. But perhaps I can cultivate traits that will improve my ability to lead. To begin, I have determined the characteristics of a good leader, and tried to identify what sort of leader I want to be, while remaining realistic about what my personal limitations will allow. My list of desirable leader attributes quickly became very long, and frankly overwhelming.  Therefore, I limited my criteria to a “top ten” list of characteristics, based on what research has shown to be attributes of successful leaders. These are dedication, enthusiasm, integrity, honesty, intelligence, decisiveness, supportiveness, communication skills, empowerment of followers, and the ability to mentor. It is important to note that these characteristics are not arranged in order of importance, because the weight of different traits varies based on context. In other words, they're all equally important (I think).


Sounds great, you might say, but what does this mean?


Dedication refers to commitment not only to the task at hand, but to the team.  Enthusiasm is used in lieu of the provision of inspiration, in part because I feel that being inspiring is more of an intrinsic quality, whereas one can cultivate and model enthusiasm more easily.  Honest and integrity are treated as separate, because while the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, I believe integrity has more to do with adhering in action and word to a consistent moral compass, while honesty involves being truthful and forthright. Intelligence is a broad category whose definition can vary based on context; in this case, I am referring to intelligence as the ability to gather and interpret data in a manner pertinent to furthering a specific goal. Decisiveness is the ability to make a decision, and supportiveness occurs when a leader provides encouragement, celebrates successes, and deals with mistakes and setbacks with kindness and compassion. Communication skills refer to the ability to make oneself understood. Finally, follower empowerment is about seeking team input and encouraging followers to take initiative, and being a good mentor involves being able to listen to and guide followers, often one-on-one or in small groups.


My hope is that by defining these criteria, I can better guide my behavior and identify areas for growth. While I may not be a natural leader like Florence Nightingale, I believe leadership skills can be developed through conscious effort and practice. As I embark on this entrepreneurial journey, I plan to regularly assess my progress in practicing these ten characteristics. Over time, I would like to be as confident in my ability to lead as I am convinced that we provide a high-quality and much-needed service. Perhaps most importantly, I've come to understand that acknowledging one's leadership limitations isn't a weakness – it's the first step toward becoming the kind of leader I would like to be.


Note: Opinions/recommendations are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of Excelled Healing, LLC.


Jan 12

3 min read

0

15

0

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