We’ve all had a boss at some point, and we know how important it is to have a good one. The right leader will set the tone of the workplace, inspire others and help to ensure employee satisfaction. In a fast-paced and high-pressure nursing environment, nurses seek respectable leaders.
So, what if you’re the manager or are thinking of becoming one? How can you be a good nurse leader?
You’ll likely need to approach your work from a new angle and consider different nursing leadership styles. Let’s explore seven types of leadership styles in nursing, review which are the most effective and examine the qualities that make these styles successful.
What are the Common Leadership Styles in Nursing?
The types of nursing leadership styles are diverse and defined in part by unique nursing jobs. Let’s review seven key types of nursing leadership styles in healthcare.
#1 Transformational Nursing Leadership Style
This type of leadership style in nursing emphasizes motivation and camaraderie through shared goals and individual relationships.1 These effective nurse leaders have strong communication skills and can inspire their staff.1 Transformational leadership goes hand-in-hand with a coaching leadership style, but coaching focuses more on providing employees with challenges that help them grow and less on interpersonal relationships.2
#2 Transactional Leaders
Transactional leadership styles in nursing are based on clearly defined structures and performance expectations, with rewards for achievements and punishment for negative behaviors.1
While this style may motivate employees to perform well, it reduces the emphasis on nurse manager-facilitated inspiration, relationships and team goals.3 As a result, employees might find themselves only putting in effort for the rewards or to avoid punishment rather than because they care about the work and their team members.3
#3 Laissez-Faire Leadership Style in Nursing
Laissez-faire leadership’s hands-off approach is the most passive of the leadership styles in nursing. These nurse leaders do very little to lead. In some workplaces, this grants employees greater freedom, but it can also cause staff to lose faith in those in charge and take on too much responsibility.1
#4 Democratic Leaders
Also known as Participative Leadership, Democratic Leadership is one of the most prevalent types of leadership styles in nursing.4
Democratic leaders focus on the team as a whole and rely upon the opinions of each participant to make decisions. Overall, this leadership style in nursing promotes collaboration and unity, fosters openness and accountability and helps make each team member feel valued. As this leadership style depends on the decisions of others, it may delay how each situation is handled and negatively impact the patient.
#5 Autocratic/Authoritarian Leaders in Nursing
You might also hear about autocratic leadership or authoritative leaders when researching types of leadership styles in nursing. This style focuses on issuing orders rather than building emotional connections.5 Autocratic leadership can be useful in other professional environments where employees are less knowledgeable and relationships are less vital. For nursing, it’s usually not ideal.1, 5
#6 Servant Type of Nursing Leadership
Nurse leaders who utilize this style prioritize the team over themselves and choose to focus on meeting the needs of everyone.4, 6 They are encouraging and supportive, which makes this one of the nursing leadership styles most effective for teaching nursing students. However, this is also one of the nursing leadership styles that requires a strong relationship between the leader and the team member, which may take time to build.4, 6
#7 Situational Leadership Style in Nursing
Situational leadership involves using different types of leadership styles in nursing and selecting the best style for the situation.6 This flexible leadership style is a good fit for working with student nurses.7, 6
What Leadership Style Is Best in Nursing?
Each of the leadership styles nursing professionals can implement has its place. It ultimately depends on the team and environment. Which is best for a nursing practice environment?
One 2021 study on leadership styles in nursing found that the transformational style of leadership had the best impact on nurse job satisfaction, while the laissez-faire style had the worst impact.1
Let’s break down the characteristics of each of the different types of nursing leadership styles and examine what makes them the most valuable for leaders.
Qualities of Effective Nurse Leaders
The study above concluded that there are a few common qualities among effective nurse leaders, such as:1
- Instilling confidence in employees
- Demonstrating strong communication and listening skills
- Bringing enthusiasm and optimism to their work
- Supporting growth and development
- Promoting teamwork
- Being humble and open-minded
The transformational style emphasizes personal relationships and communication, both vital aspects of effective leadership.1 In contrast, a laissez-faire environment might deprive nurses of the feedback they need to improve their skills and feel empowered.1 Similarly, if the leadership style is too transactional, the staff can feel unheard and unenthusiastic.1
By breaking nurse leadership styles into their more specific qualities, it’s easier to grasp what your staff needs from you.
What Leadership Style Should the Nurse Manager Use?
While it’s valuable to understand leadership styles in nursing, there isn’t one that is always best when you’re in a managing role. Rather than worrying about a single approach, aim to adapt to any situation with positive leadership skills. You’ll likely develop your nursing leadership styles from characteristics associated with different leadership approaches.
To remember the qualities of a good nurse manager, choose:
- Communication
- Harmony
- Optimism
- Open-mindedness
- Support
- Recognition
Here are a few elements of leadership styles nursing professional can practice in action:
- Support – A new nurse is unfamiliar with the type of test results you are analyzing. Take the opportunity to teach them what to look for, so they might learn.
- Open-mindedness – An RN believes they’ve found a better way to optimize the schedule you’ve made. Hear them out and be willing to consider their suggestions.
- Recognition – A nurse thinks quickly and makes a decision that saves someone’s life. While you might brush this off as a part of the job, acknowledge their success.
- Harmony – A dispute breaks out between two nurses. Rather than leaving them to work it out, use a hands-on approach to get involved and find a resolution.
Each of these examples of nursing leadership styles demonstrates an interest in developing your staff’s knowledge and being mindful of their emotional needs. Remember that your employees are people, and at the end of the day, you’re all there for the same reason: Enhancing your patients’ health and well being.
Become Tomorrow’s Nursing Leader
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) offers Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs, as well as Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate programs to broaden your skills and stand out in the crowd. Are you interested in a nursing leadership role? Check out our Nurse Executive role specialty.
Take the first step and request more information about our nursing programs today.
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501, (510)-748-9001, www.wscuc.org. The University is a Certified B Corp institution that puts students first. Our flexible online programs are designed with working nurses in mind, so you can advance your career in your own time.
Sources
- Maria Lucia Specchia, Maria Rosaria Cozzolino, et al., “Leadership Styles and Nurses’ Job Satisfaction. Results of a Systematic Review,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, February 2021; 18(4): 1552, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7915070/.
- Kara Dennison, “Why Traditional Leadership Styles May Become Irrelevant With The Rise Of The Coaching Leadership Style,” Forbes, May 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/karadennison/2021/05/27/why-traditional-leadership-styles-may-become-irrelevant-with-the-rise-of-the-coaching-leadership-style/?sh=711e8167e9e4
- Nguyen Hai Thanh and Nguyen Van Quang, “Transformational, Transactional, Laissez-faire Leadership Styles and Employee Engagement: Evidence From Vietnam’s Public Sector,” SAGE Open, May 27, 2022, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/21582440221094606
- Darby Faubion, “8 Types of Leadership Styles in Nursing–Which One is Right For You?”, Nursing Process.org, 2024, https://www.nursingprocess.org/leadership-styles-in-nursing.html
- Sophia Demtriades Toftdahl, “The 7 Most Common Leadership Styles (and How to Find Your Own),” LinkedIn, July 15, 2020, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-most-common-leadership-styles-how-find-your-own-sophia
- American Nurses Association, “Leadership in Nursing: Qualities & Why it Matters,” ANA, May 19, 2023, https://www.nursingworld.org/content-hub/resources/nursing-leadership/leadership-in-nursing/#:~:text=to%20influence%20others.-,Leadership%20Qualities%20in%20Nursing,and%20regulatory%20and%20legislative%20environments.
- Top Nursing, “Leadership Styles in Nursing for Improved Quality of Care,” Topnursing.org, 2024, https://www.topnursing.org/leadership-styles-in-nursing/.
