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University lecturer Elaine Walls lifts the lid on how situational leadership teaching methods are helping to equip community practitioners with the skills they need in the field.
There's not much literature available to guide and direct NHS leadership and their approaches within clinical practice. However, two main schools of thought exist. There are the historical transactional theories, where leaders provide rewards to followers for desired behaviours, but these are largely recognised to be ineffective in nursing care. Then there are the more modern transformational approaches that have driven NHS leadership for many years. Transformational leaders are considered to be committed leaders with a vision to empower and nurture the value that others bring (Marquis and Huston, 2012). NHS leadership theory often drives nurses towards a transformational approach to their leadership style in clinical practice. This approach is known to motivate staff and subsequently contribute to more effective care for patients and communities by driving the NHS and service provision forward (Solomon, 2010).
But a clinical practice teacher can adapt a third way, the increasingly supportive approach of situational leadership for postregistration students.
WHAT IS SITUATIONAL LEADERSHIP?
Situational leadership can be described as the inter-relation between the task behaviour (that is, giving instruction, direction, guidance and the relationship behaviour), listening, support, and value (Thompson, 2012). This style offers the benefits of combined strategies that apply consideration to individual and environmental needs. This can maximise students' learning experiences and satisfaction within practice contexts.
Leaders who are able to respond to the challenges that arise within workforces, as well as consider the teaching and learning needs of their followers, are recognised as increasing competency, productivity and investment in care (Thompson, 2012).
Situational leadership requires the person leading to be flexible and modify their behaviour to suit individuality rather than using a single approach (Zurlinden and Bongard, 1991).
Leadership is a key element within all nursing professions. Nurses are required to cultivate skills that enhance their own development and support their quest in becoming excellent practitioners delivering high-quality care.
THE LEADERSHIP JOURNEY
Before nurses can develop their own leadership skills, how they themselves are led in practice needs to be considered. Leading by example is essential throughout pre- and post-registration nursing programmes. Nurses are role models for the...