Running head: IMPACTS OF LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOUR ON PATIENT CARE

Impacts of leadership behavior on patient care

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Impacts of leadership behavior on patient care

Leadership behaviors
What is leadership and what role does it play in nursing? Leadership is a complex term
that can be defined from different perspectives ranging from development, cognition, social to
cultural definition (Digman, et al., 2012). It is therefore defined as a social action or influence
that aids in bringing people together to pursue a common goal. In nursing I realize that
leadership goes beyond guiding the followers towards a common goal to ensuring that
employees work to the best interest of the patients they tend to. It is therefore evident that we as
leaders need to develop leadership behaviors that are of the best interest to the patients we
provide the services to.
There are a variety of leadership behaviors that leaders can employ to enhance
productivity and quality service provision. These behaviors can be applied individually or a mix
according to the needs of the organization or the situation facing a leader. The path-goal theory
defines four leadership behaviors that define the quality of performance of any organization:
participative, directive, achievement-oriented and supportive leadership behaviors (Wafford, &
Liska, P. 487). To ensure that our leadership in nursing become of great benefit to the society and
our patients, we employ these behaviors in accordance to the needs of any given situation.
Relevance of leadership behaviors
Our application of these leadership behaviors has a great impact on the quality of services
provided to our patients. I personally believe in servant leadership that ensures that nurses under
any nurse leader perform to the best interest of patients. How do we ensure that this happens? Let
us consider a situation where a leader focuses on only one leadership behavior. What would be
the outcome of concentrating on only one behavior despite the changing situations? We realize

Impacts of leadership behavior on patient care

that there would be negative impacts to either the followers or the patients we serve. It is
therefore very essential to include more than one style in most cases.
Through a support based culture, a leader is able to motivate and empower his followers
towards quality service provision (Grossman, & Valiga, 2012). By supporting them, health
practitioners are able to perform on their free will and achieve what could not be achievable
through direction and force.it is therefore important to apply this style where the task involved is
either voluntary or has less motivation. Another important role that these behaviors aid us creates
future leaders through participation, support and achievement-oriented leadership. That way we
ensure that the people we work with have enough knowledge on the leadership roles. The
subordinates acquire knowledge through participation and having the nursing leaders as role
model through emulating their behaviors.
What we leaders should do to enhance leadership approach
Changing on the way we relate to our subordinate and treating them as a part of our
organization is one way that we should do to enhance leadership approach. When the followers
are involved in decision making, task allocation committees and other organizations activities
can greatly have a positive impact on the service provision (Epistropaki, & Martin., 2005). My
belief on patient centered service provision has in fact been a great concern and stepping stone to
success in my career. Through this patient satisfaction has been greatly been achieved through
quality service provision and respect of patients right and autonomy.

Impacts of leadership behavior on patient care

References
Dignam, D., Duffield, C., Stasa, H., Gray, J., Jackson, D., & Daly, J. (2012). Management and
leadership in nursing: an Australian educational perspective. Journal of Nursing
Management, 20(1), 65-71.
Epitropaki, O., & Martin, R. (2005). From Ideal to Real: A Longitudinal Study of the
Role of Implicit Leadership Theories on Leader-Member Exchanges and
Employee Outcomes. Journal Of Applied Psychology, 90(4), 659-676.
Doi:10.1037/0021-9010.90.4.659. Retrieved August 4, 2015, from Business
Source Complete

Grossman, S. C., & Valiga, T. M. (2012). The new leadership challenge: Creating the future of
nursing. FA Davis.
Wofford, J. C., & Liska, L. Z. (1993). Path-Goal Theories of Leadership: A MetaAnalysis. Journal Of Management, 19(4), 587. Retrieved August 4, 2015, from Business
Source Complete