Approximately 22 years ago, Kenneth M. Blanchard, a renowned, yet influential leadership expert wrote the book ‘The Heart of a Leader: Insights on the Art of Influence’. His timeless work has great applicability for nurse leaders, particularly as we continue to navigate through what I would say is the unchartered pandemic territory.
Nurses and nurse leaders face enormous stress, moral injury, depression, burnout, and, sadly, suicide. Patients, too, face similar difficulties. With the ability to think, feel, and act, you know we are all faced with experiences that did not come with a ‘road map.’ Because what worked in the past, absolutely needs to be changed now to transform how we deliver healthcare to our patients and how leaders influence change.
Due to the heart of our nurse leaders, healthcare has been able to maintain some stability. What I realize is nurse leaders are solidly behind their nurses. I’ve seen their courage and determination to ensure the well-being of their teams. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. I suggest, however, that we look at the negatives, understand them, and do something to fix them.
Leaders are very well positioned to influence and drive transformative change that is so needed. Yet, if Blanchard’s (2007) premise of the heart of a leader being a vital component of leadership, then what does leading with heart look like? Here are three characteristics that I believe a leader with “heart” can exhibit.
Clearly seeing who the individual is and who they can become. A leader with heart gives the individual their unconditional acceptance, treats them as if they are the most valuable person on earth, because they are, and focuses on helping them see who they can become.
Second, a leader with heart is resilient. Every day no matter what the previous day was like, they go back to that challenging obstacle. Though the entire ‘world’ of that leader is crashing down around them, they clearly know they MUST find the answer that solves the problem. Not because they are the ‘be all end all’, but because they are concerned for the well-being of their teams. They believe every member of their team is needed and cannot imagine not being around their colleagues.
Finally, a leader with heart has a growth mindset that is adaptable when change occurs, is trustworthy, and is consistently learning how they can become better human beings.
You may say I am not a leader. Well, a leader is not relegated to someone in a leadership role. Every individual is a leader, because we all have an influence on others. Leadership is nothing more than influence. But guess what, YOU get to decide what your influence will be? What does your ‘heart’ tell you?
References
Blanchard, K. (2007). The Heart of a Leader: Insights on the Art of Influence. Cook Communications Ministries.