According to leadership expert and motivational speaker John C. Maxwell, “a lead

According to leadership expert and motivational speaker John C. Maxwell, “a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course. Leaders who are good navigators are capable of taking their people just about anywhere.” Leadership behavior has a profound impact on nurse work-related well-being and environment. The increased pressure due to global staff shortage and high turnover rates have severe consequences on the physical and psychological health of staff and on patients’ safety. Effective leadership is paramount in creating healthy and productive workplaces. Poor leadership and lack of autonomy have been shown to contribute to nurse burnout and underproductive behaviors influencing poor patient outcomes (Kohnen et al., 2024). Key insight to note is that, too many times leaders focus on the financial gains and power as opposed to providing security and compassion to subordinates. Someone who possesses excellent communication skills, emotional intelligence, humility, empathy, integrity, direct and exhibits a positive energy is one that can lead by example and be successful. There are various types of leadership styles that have both pros and cons. The transformational leader and the situational leadership are two types that have piqued my interest with my favorite being transformational because I value people and I do not see anyone has expendable. Transformational leadership style is described as creating relationships and motivation among staff. These leaders typically can inspire confidence, show staff respect and they communicate loyalty through a shared vision, resulting in increased productivity, strengthen employee morale, and job satisfaction (Sfantou et al., 2017). Likewise, Iqbal, Fatima & Naveed (2019) reiterate that transformational leadership is a process through which leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of morality and motivation. It has surfaced as one of the most important leadership styles fostering higher levels of commitment. This leadership style focuses on the value of staff empowerment. It is perceived that empowered employees are motivated to perform at the highest level and exhibit a higher commitment to achieving organizational goals. In healthcare, this leadership style is widely adapted and has proven to be effective in raising the bars on patient care and safety. When I think of real-life examples of transformational leaders, I think of Oprah Winfrey and Jeff Bezos who have demonstrated the ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve exceptional outcomes hence driving their organization to success. Our work environment is constant with unforeseeable changes and outcomes, making situational adaptability very important. Situational leadership means adapting leadership styles to unique situations or tasks to meet the needs of the team. Situational leadership style is essential in managing specific conditions when needed and can prioritize needs. This model offers different leadership styles directing, coaching, supporting /facilitating, and delegating which creates movement, builds relationships, and inspires peak performance. For example, during a cardiac arrest, the situational leader can leverage the individual team members skills to influence a better outcome for the patient (Alshammari et al., 2024). From a nurse manager’s perspective, it is pertinent to consider the point of view of employees, situation factors, and organizational goals. This further emphasizes the importance of situational leadership in nursing to yield healthy work environments and optimal patient outcomes. In real life, the best examples of situational leaders are sporting coaches who will always need to make changes and play strategies according to individual team approaches. In conclusion, the success of any organization is dependent on effective leadership. They play a key role in shaping the culture, strategy, and performance of their teams. Leaders through varying styles who communicate effectively, build strong relationships, manage conflicts, and inspire their teams to achieve their goals will drive their organization to success. References Alshammari W., Alshammari, A. & AlShammari, T et al. (2024). Situational leadership style in nursing management in critical care units. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 31(2), 08–26. https://doi.org/10.53555/jptcp.v31i2.4288 Iqbal, K. Fatima, T. & Naveed M. (2019). The impact of transformational leadership on nurses’ organizational commitment: a multiple mediation model. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ10(1), 262-275. doi: 10.3390/ejihpe10010021. Kohnen, D., De Witte, H. & Schaufeli, W.B. et al. (2024). Engaging leadership and nurse well-being: the role of the work environment and work motivation – a cross-sectional study. Hum Resour Health 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-023-00886-6Links to an external site. Maxwell, J. (n.d.) Leadership quotes. https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/44-inspiring-john-c-maxwell-quotes-that-will-take-you-to-leadership-success.html Sfantou, D., Laliotis, A., & Patelarou, A. et al. (2017). Importance of leadership style towards quality of care measures in healthcare settings: a systematic review. Healthcare (Basel) 5(4). doi: 10.3390/healthcare5040073.