LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES Leslie Burgy,RN BSN

Why Leadership Competencies? -With the Baby Boomers looking to retire, the challenge of many organizations is to develop a group of future leaders that can take the reins when they are passed to them. -Future leaders need a incorporation of life experiences and leadership skills or competencies to be successful. -The Health Leadership Alliance also states that there are certain competencies that a leader must possess. They include communication and relationship management, leadership and professionalism. -There are many competencies that a leader must have in their tool box but there are three that the leader must master. They are emotional intelligence, charisma and ethical conduct.

Emotional Intelligence -The ability to do such things and understand one’s feelings, showing empathy and regulating one’s emotions to enhance one’s quality of life (Dubrin,2010 ) -Leaders must be able to effectively communicate to all those they come in contact with as well as develop meaningful, trusting relationships. -Without emotional intelligence leaders will not be able to reach strategic goals or enhance the organization’s vision.

Charisma -Involves building meaning relationships -Followers of charismatic leaders have been found to accept the leader without question, trust the leader’s beliefs, show willing obedience to the leader, identify with the leader and want to emulate the leader (Valle,1999). -Valle( 1999) also suggests that the charismatic bond represents the needs of the followers during times of crisis for centralized authority and in return for their obedience and service the leader provides direction and focus. -When charismatic leadership is directed to organizational goals the benefits to the organization are increased productivity and performance as well as job satisfaction.

Ethical Conduct -Ethics : Doing the right thing in terms of conduct and behavior. -Professional ethics relates to values and standards of a profession that are generally made explicit in professional codes or conducts of practice (Paterson, 2012). -Professional ethics also encompasses how a professional should be behave as well as desired character traits and virtues. -An ethical leader is honest and trustworthy and therefore must have integrity. The leader must state his or her beliefs and stick to them, no matter what the outside influences may be. -Paterson(2012) states that to support an ethical practice the leader must have open communication, collaboration and adequate resources.

References Dubrin, A. J. (2010). Leadership: Research findings, practice and skills (6th ed.). United States: Cengage Learning. Paterson, J. G. (2012, June 13). Educational responses to unethical healthcare practice. Nursing Standard, 26(41), Valle, M. (1999, Summer 1999). Crisis, culture and charisma: The new leader’s work in public organizations. Public Personnel Management, 28(2),