Types

• Nurses can rise to positions of leadership either formally or informally, according to Eleanor Sullivan and Phillip Decker in "Effective Leadership and Management in Nursing." Formal Leadership refers to authority conferred upon the nurse by the institution or organization and described in a job description. Informal leadership refers to a nurse with no specific management role or officially conferred authority. However, the informal nurse leader makes positive contributions to efficiency of work flow in a specific area.
  
  

Leadership Qualities and Traits

• A nurse leader is characterized by strong character qualities: integrity, courage, initiative, energy, optimism, perseverance, balanced life, ability to handle stress and keen self-awareness, according to Tappen, Weiss and Whitehead. These qualities are complemented by distinctive behavioral traits: ability to think critically, solve problems, respect people, communicate skillfully, set goals and share a vision and develop self and others.
  
  

Leadership Interpersonal Skills

• According to Jeri Milstead and Elizabeth Furlong in "Handbook of Nursing Leadership," contemporary nurse leaders need to have well-developed interpersonal skills: flexibility in work relationships, ability to integrate new ideas quickly, collaboration, deal with interdisciplinary health care teams, interact with whoever has needed or pertinent information regarding an issue, and the ability to delegate planning and work.
  
  

Leadership Types

• There are four major types of leadership styles in nursing. The autocratic style is characterized by the leader making all decisions and directing all behaviors. The democratic style is characterized by the leader depending upon the participation of the staff and forming a consensus for any decision-making. The laissez-faire style is characterized by the leader leaving the staff alone to perform its work and giving no direction or facilitation regarding actions. The bureaucratic style is characterized by a sole reliance upon rules, procedures and policies for decision-making, according to Sullivan and Decker.
  
  

Leadership Methods

• Two major methods of leadership, according to Sullivan and Decker, emerge from the various types of nursing leadership. One method is characterized by initiating structure. This method emphasizes the organization and definition of goals, work patterns and methods, channels of communication and the roles of the nursing staff. The other method is based upon consideration. This is an employee-centered method of leadership that engenders mutual trust, respect, friendship, warmth and rapport between the leader and staff. The staff is engaged in decision-making and the needs of the group are addressed as a whole.