Transformational Leadership in Nursing: A Concept Analysis

This article discusses the concept of transformational leadership in nursing and its importance in enhancing organizational performance. It also explores the different nursing roles where transformational leadership can be applied and the personal growth opportunities associated with it.

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Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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Introduction:
According to Fischer (2016), the success rate of an organizational performance
heavily depends on the style of leadership and management integrated within the
organization. Research studies state that the transformational style of leadership is one of the
most efficient leadership styles that can be used to enhance the performance output of any
organization (Choi et al., 2016; Spano-Szekely et al., 2016). Transformational leadership can
be defined as a style of leadership that primarily stresses on acquiring the organization vision
by inducing a positive change within the organization (Weng et al., 2015). Transformational
organizational leaders make use of their personality traits, knowledge and skills to generate
productivity for the organization.
Background:
According to Banks et al. (2016), transformational leadership has been defined as a
leadership style that enables the leader to identify the needed change within the organization,
create a vision and motivate the workforce to accomplish the set organizational vision.
Research studies mention that the transformational leadership style is the best leadership style
that helps to drive a change within the organization (Hoch et al., 2018; Banks et al., 2016).
The transformational leadership theory was majorly devised for harnessing continuous
organizational growth and development. Research studies in this regard mention that the
transformational leadership style is best suited for organizations that enter into a stagnant
phase of development (Ghasabeh et al., 2015; Banks et al., 2016). In addition to this, research
studies also state that the transformational leadership style is tightly associated with increase
in job satisfaction, performance output, sustenance and organizational commitment (Hawkins
2017). The evidence base further states that leaders can make use of the critical nuances of
the transformational leadership theory in order to increase the holistic effort of the company

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(Afsar & Umrani, 2019). As stated by Mathew and Gupta (2015), the transformational
leadership theory was propounded by a political historian James MacGregor Burns. Burns
focused on the manner in which transformational leadership theory could assist leaders to
motivate followers and accomplish common goals. The theory comprises of four important
concepts that include creation of a vision, developing a growth mind set, inducing creativity
and monitoring the team with authenticity (Mathew & Gupta, 2015). The cumulative use of
the four elements can help in motivating the workforce and maximising team productivity.
Nursing Practice in different roles and leadership theory:
According to Deinert et al. (2015), the use of the transformational leadership theory is
ideal across the healthcare system. The use of the transformational leadership theory
facilitates easier conflict management and increased performance output (Rosenbach, 2018).
In addition to this, the theory of transformational leadership is also ideal for diverse nursing
roles which include the role of a Public Health Nurse, Unit Manager or a CNO. In other
words, the transformational leadership theory is ideal for any nursing role where the key
responsibilities of the professional involves managing a team of professionals. For each of the
three defined nursing roles, the nurse leader would need to work with a team of care
professionals and ensure maximum productivity. In addition to this, while working with a
team of professionals, there might be difference of opinion as each individual within a team
would have a different perspective. The difference in opinion could escalate and lead to
conflicts. As a nursing leader (CNO, Unit Manager or Public Health Nurse), one of the key
responsibilities is to manage intra team conflicts and ensure that the work environment is a
positive and constructive one. Hostile team environment could drastically affect the
performance output of the team (Deinert et al., 2015). Therefore, the team leader could make
use of effective communication so as to ensure there is no role confusion and on encountering
a team conflict the leader must proactively implement strategies to resolve the conflict. This

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would help in aligning the team to the articulated vision which would ultimately help in
enhancing performance outcome and at the same time promote a positive work environment
(Rosenbach, 2018).
In this regard, it can be stated that the CNO or the Chief Nursing Officer is majorly
concerned with monitoring the everyday operations of the facility’s nursing professionals.
This requires the CNO to possess excellent communication skills so as to ensure that the
consistency of the workflow is maintained. At the same time, the CNO needs to interact with
a number of healthcare departments which means there could be role confusion or conflicts.
Also, the CNO is expected to assure premium quality of nursing care delivery. Therefore, the
nurse leader must make use of skills such as effective communication and motivational
leadership in order to enhance the productivity and promote positive service delivery. In the
same way a Unit Manager is expected to manage a nursing care unit and take care of
administrative responsibilities such as training and enforcement of organizational policies. In
addition to this, a Unit Manger also assesses patient that might require a referral to hospice
care. The job role is associated with direct interaction with patients and care professionals
which also requires effective communication skills. The role of a public health nurse is to
assess individual patient needs and develop an appropriate care plan or referral. The job role
requires interacting with different patients with diverse healthcare needs. It is integral to
make use of effective communication skills so as to build a positive rapport with the patients
and render positive care delivery.
Therefore, on the basis of the above discussion, it can be mentioned that the
transformational leadership theory can help in acquiring effective team performance, smooth
integration of an organizational change and effective conflict management which can yield
positive performance outcome.

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Discussion on personal growth:
My present job role is that of a Registered Nurse (RN) and I work in the surgical and
orthopaedic Unit. My current job role concentrates on the responsibilities of preparation of
medication, conducting patient assessments, preparing for a surgical operation, delivering
post-operative care and coordinating with the multidisciplinary team of professionals for
discharge planning. I need to interact with a multidisciplinary team of care professionals as
well as patients and their family members for the creation of an effective care plan. My future
plans include acquiring experience as a RN and pursue the RN to MSN course and then
acquire a degree in Master of Health Administration. This would help me to be placed in a
leadership position. My future career plans include acquiring the administrative position of a
CNO. The primary skills required for the job role include refined leadership and mentoring
skills, strong strategic planning and reasoning ability, ability to undertake critical decisions
for conflict resolution, problem solving ability and effective communication skills to manage
a team of professionals. In addition to this, as a CNO, it is integral to be well-versed with
advanced medical technology so as to enhance the improvement of healthcare system
delivery with the use of updated technology. Therefore, as per my personal understanding
and the knowledge acquired from the evidence base, implementation and adaptation of the
transformational style of leadership can help in acquiring improved performance output and a
positive patient care delivery.
Evaluation of personal SWOT:
In order to plan my future career growth, it is integral to conduct a self-assessment so
as to be aware about the existing strength, weakness, opportunities and threat. On analysing
my strengths I feel that I have a keen interest to pursue higher education. In addition to this, I
also possess a strong command over the pharmacological and physiological concepts which

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would help me guide my subordinates with my knowledge and expertise. On the emotional
front, I am extremely calm and composed and I believe this would help me manage strenuous
situations. I can also communicate in an effective and clear manner and I believe this
particular personality trait would help me maintain a clear communication channel with my
team members.
My weaknesses include, inefficient time management skills and lack of leadership
skills to manage a team of professionals. On reflecting upon my personal achievements, I feel
that I perform better as an individual but while working in a team I stress more on my
personal contribution rather than focusing on the cumulative team production. I believe, as a
leader it is important to focus more on the contribution of the team rather than emphasising
more on the individual contribution.
Opportunities include, career advancement options such as management positions like
the CNO or Unit Nurse Manager. It also includes other career advancement options such as
the role of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner.
Threats include, financial insecurity. I do not belong to a financially secured family
and need to manage both my education and work. In addition to this, I am also diagnosed
with Type II Diabetes and this interferes with my stamina and performance level.

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Therefore, the SWOT analysis, for my personal strengths is illustrated as under:
Strength Passion to pursue higher
education Emotionally calm and composed Strong pharmacological and
physiological concepts
Weakness
 Inefficient time management
skills
 Poor team performer
Opportunities Options to pursue higher
education Options to get placed in a
management position
Threat
 Financial insecurity
 Limiting physical health
condition
Top three leadership traits:
According to my personal perspective and understanding, the three best leadership
traits include effective communication skills to manage a team of professionals, efficient
time-management skills and effective decision making ability. Research studies mention that
effective communication skills and critical decision making ability can help in convenient
resolution of conflicts (Lehmann-Willenbrock et al., 2015). In addition to this, efficient time
management skills ensure enhanced performance of the team and adherence to discipline that
help in fostering a positive work culture (Deinert et al., 2015). Research studies also suggest
that a leader must be an active listener and must be able to motivate the team to work together
in order to achieve the set organizational vision (Rosenbach, 2018; Mathew & Gupta, 2015).
As an active listener the leader can critically pay attention to the grievances of the team

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members which would help in effective conflict management and help in strengthening the
bond between the team-members (Lin et al., 2015). Further, the ability to motivate is the
primary responsibility of the team leader so as to continuously encourage the team of
professionals to collectively work in order to accomplish the set vision (Banks et al., 2016).
Conclusion:
Therefore, to conclude, it can be said that transformational leadership is the most
appropriate styles of leadership that can be integrated within the healthcare system. For my
personal career development, I would like to pursue higher education so that I can be placed
at an administrative designation. Administrative designation would require the integration of
appropriate leadership and management skills. As an individual, I am emotionally calm and
extremely passionate about higher education. I further look forward to being placed as a CNO
within a reputed healthcare organization in future. My personal weaknesses include poor time
management and coordination within a team. However, I have a refined understanding about
the traits of a leader and would work on my identified personality weaknesses to shine in my
career.

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References:
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