Authentic leadership discussion group3

We, as a group, like how Avolio and Gardner (2005) proposed that authentic leadership makes a difference in organizations by helping people to find meaning at work, build optimism and commitment among followers, encourage transparent relationships that build trust. Authentic leadership is proposed as the core of effective leadership needed to build trust because of its clear focus on the positive role modeling of honesty, integrity, and high ethical standards in the development of leader-follower relationships (Wong & Cummings 2009).

Critics attribute manipulative, deceptive and other such devious behaviors to transformational leaders, authentic or pseudotransformational`leadership. Martin and Sims (1956) and Bailey (1988) hold that to succeed, all leaders must be manipulative. But, in fact, it is pseudotransformational leaders who are deceptive and manipulative. Authentic transformational leaders may have to be manipulative at times for what they judge to be the common good. According to Burns (1978), only if the
underlying values were morally uplifting, could the leader be considered Authentic.

As one of our group mates shared, there is leadership, and then there is authentic leadership. If you are not willing to engage from your heart, to passionately work to create a greater quality of work life for front-line staff every day, and to push yourself to the ultimate limit to make that happen, you might be a leader, but you will not be perceived as an authentic leader. Authentic leaders love, challenge people to do what they didn't believe was possible, and generate the energy to make the impossible possible by their passion for their people, their patients, and for doing the right thing. Therefore an authentic leader is an agent of change and with the ability to sustain change to form a consistent environment that able to support the change. This can be achieved through focusing one’s management on the needs of his/her followers more than her own personal views of the problem that surround the institution he/she belong.

The theory of authentic leadership can be widely use in nursing management. Authenticity has been described as a relationship between leader and follower, (Canada Newswire, 2011) We agreed that it can also be applied to nurse and patient relationship, nurse as the leader and patient as the follower. The nurse as the leader should be authentic to be transparent in her decision towards managing all kinds of patients. Self awareness of nurses can build patient's confidence and develop trust to their nurses thus, promoting cooperation in the course of care.

Guide Questions:
1. Is it possible that one can be very self aware but cannot acted it out?
2. How does the leading capability of a nurse manager or a leader be affected if he/she is already true to his/herself but not acting it out?
3. How can authentic leadership propel nursing as a profession?
4. How can nurses find meaning in their work and produce better patient outcomes through authentic leadership?

Hello. I do not understand your notion that there is leadership, then there is authentic leadership. Theoretically speaking, leadership, in it's truest essence, is something that you're not forced to do, or something that's not what your heart desires, and not passionate about. Enlighten me.

The next four paragraphs will answer your guide questions:

I think one can be self-aware and not act it out to some extent. well depending on the circumstance. just like my research, one may be spiritual but not render spiritual care. BUT. this would be like pretending to be someone you're not. which is... NOT GOOD.

Again, that would depend on who that nurse manager really is. Like, she's aware that she doesn't want to be a nurse, but she's a nurse cos that's the only choice she has, then that's a different story. But for the purpose of this discussion, not acting out is USELESS. you know you have the potential to be a good leader but you don't act it out, just plain USELESS.

Oh, this model is really amazing, and i say that even if it is still relatively in its early stage of development. once this theory is actualized and applied to nursing, nursing profession will be in its GOLDEN ERA.

Simple. Self-awareness. you have to know thyself before becoming an authentic leader. once you've developed that, then add on the other essential components the model proposed, then finding meaning in your work would just be a piece of cake

Greetings!

I appreciate how your group come up with this idea. Indeed the authentic leadership can be use on nurse-patient scenario. I just cant understand how self awareness of nurses can build patient's confidence, i might miss something. Can you please elaborate on that?

Thank you.

Hi group 3, our group already posted our discussion. please post your replies,thank you very much. Very Happy

all are personal comments, no citations other than myself

I believe that it is possible and to me this is dangerous. I think that people who cannot act out their true values, identity, motives etc. are people who care so much about reputation and acts to please everybody. An authentic leader cannot be a people pleaser, she must know exactly where to stand in any situations, and she must stand firmly.

A nursing leader for me must be consistent. If someone cannot act out according to her own values she shouldn’t be a leader in the first place. She has no capability.

Since authentic leadership is believed to affect followers in a positive way, if authentic leaders emerge then more nurses will have satisfying work outcomes. When this happens nursing will be known as a profession with integrity.

I believe so. A good relationship between leader and follower is necessary. If a leader is able to have good relation and communication with her followers they must be able to work better thus producing good outcomes.

1) Is it possible that one can be very self aware but cannot act it out?
For me, i don't think this is possible. I believe that if a person is self aware then everything that he does, his opinions, actions, etc. would always reflect his self-awareness or how he knows himself. If he does or show otherwise to other people then it is a situation wherein he WON'T(intentional) act out his self-awareness and not that he CAN'T.

2) How does the leading capability of a nurse manager or a leader be affected if he/she is already true to his/herself but not acting it out?
I go back to my previous argument that if a leader is not acting out his true self assessment of himself then he is intentionally doing this. There must be an ulterior motive to this and whatever that motive is would then affect his leading capability. Furthermore, if this is the case then it would be safe to assume that he is no longer an authentic leader because he is lacking in authentic behavior, the 3rd element of authentic leadership.

LoLee wrote:1) Is it possible that one can be very self aware but cannot act it out?
For me, i don't think this is possible. I believe that if a person is self aware then everything that he does, his opinions, actions, etc. would always reflect his self-awareness or how he knows himself. If he does or show otherwise to other people then it is a situation wherein he WON'T(intentional) act out his self-awareness and not that he CAN'T.

2) How does the leading capability of a nurse manager or a leader be affected if he/she is already true to his/herself but not acting it out?
I go back to my previous argument that if a leader is not acting out his true self assessment of himself then he is intentionally doing this. There must be an ulterior motive to this and whatever that motive is would then affect his leading capability. Furthermore, if this is the case then it would be safe to assume that he is no longer an authentic leader because he is lacking in authentic behavior, the 3rd element of authentic leadership.

AMEN TO THAT LO!

Hi.

Is it possible that one can be very self aware but cannot acted it out?
Yes i think it is possible. There are extrinsic factors which can hinder an individual in practicing. This is where one component of authentic leadership, comes in, balanced processing. Probably, the values are not well grounded that is why one cannot act it out or he's just not confident to put it into practice.

For questions 2, 3 and 4.
I think the implementation of protocols will not be consistent because values which guide the leader is not established. This type of leader will be more concerned on what people will say and how can he please others. I think this kind of leader can be manipulated and dictated how to do things, he will instantly say yes without thinking. The development of trust from subordinates will not be formed. Nursing as a profession can be propelled by authentic leadership by giving the ideal way on how you can manage subordinates thru assessment of one's self. This kind of leadership promotes empowerment of people, letting them actively participate w/ your goals (they will feel that they are vital in the organization), thus creating a two way communication and a healthy working environment. Through authentic leadership, nurses will be effective in management, thus when recognized, nurses can be a representative in the top management. Because of this, improvement of the nursing profession, discussion and settlement of nursing issues will be given of importance. Let us face the fact that here in our country, when a body does not have a representative in the organization, concerns of that certain body will not be easily addressed.

3. How can authentic leadership propel nursing as a profession?

As I said in my discussion earlier, in the nursing context, authenticity is a skill needed by every nurse as they function as leaders and the nurses need to influence patient's health care practices. Also having self-awareness makes you more emphatic and non-judgemental in intervening or approaching (Cohen, 1994) varying patient situation where you need to be a professional in every decision you make.

Good day!
Alwynne- "A nursing leader for me must be consistent. If someone cannot act out according to her own values she shouldn’t be a leader in the first place. She has no capability. "

weng, I agree with what you are saying, but the leader must also consider the values of the organization she/he is into. Values and actuations should also be in accordance to the core beliefs and vision of the company/organization... this includes, but not just limited to the own values of the leader ^^

Jay - "I just cant understand how self awareness of nurses can build patient's confidence, i might miss something. Can you please elaborate on that?"

Self-awareness can increase self confidence and make all the difference in how well one gets to manage life. More awareness of who you really are as opposed to who you think you are can make all the difference between low self esteem and high self esteem.(Dr. Houston Vetter, PhD, Feb 2011)

http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles

One of the most important factors in building your self esteem and confidence is your self awareness. Thus, if you want to change your current situation, in any way, you need to know yourself before you can do something worthwhile. Same for the patients, if they are self-aware, the more they are likely to be more participative and decisive when it comes to their health. You need to know what you need to do to head in the right direction and you can't do that until you know yourself.

thnks!

(kich)
ALWYNNE says patients need empowerment not self-awareness then LO counters with a statement that the role of the nurse is to make the patients aware of their resources and potentials, and that this is helping them to be SELF-AWARE.

I think these are two different approaches but can be given at the same time.. self-awareness and empowerment can be co-existing with each other..
If self-awareness is given to the client, you empower her to manage her own health.
This is just an addition to my previous post to the self-awareness and self-confidence above.