Robert Greenleaf: Servant Leadership In Nursing

Servant leadership was the piloted genius of Robert Greenleaf. His generation of the servant leadership platform and development of the landmark leadership style was first published in an essay, “The Servant as Leader”. This essay publication occurred after his development of a non-profit institution, Greenleaf Center. His humble beginnings included that of being a child whose father ingrained in him the idea that you must demonstrate and develop oneself into someone that others wish to be, he insisted in one of his last publications that “his father was his original model for a servant leader” (Greenleaf Center). Greenleaf was an educated individual who began his career with a large and non-personal company, AT&T. He dedicated his career …show more content…
By listening effectively and reflectively the leader can develop necessary and desired innovations to the delivery of the patient care needs, the patient and nurses are simultaneously benefited. Being empathetic emulates through the idea that as a leader you should never ask a nurse to do a patient care task you would be unwilling to perform. Being aware of diverseness within the nursing industry and helping to heal any broken relationships caused by poor communication are ideal examples of using the stepping stones of servant leadership to promote success within a healthcare community. A direct example of the servant-leadership element of persuasion occurred when the nurses within the MICU were in conflict regarding the patient family visitation schedule. The nurses were insistent that family being present impeded patient procedures, however the nurse leaders had developed a unit council for discussion and promotion of positive changes within the unit. This council was provided research that promoted family involvement as essential for recovery processes. The council of nurses decided to reduce restrictions and support the use of families as additive to patient care and rehabilitation (Nell, Saunders, …show more content…
The successful servant-leader in a nursing leadership role will promote the nurses to participate and have an active part in the leading and guiding of the unit to success. Another key aspect of working as a servant-leader style nursing leader is that of promoting stewardship in the sense of a positive team environment. This is a direct result of yet another aspect of servant-leadership theory, the building of a community amongst the nurses within the unit and healthcare institution. By facilitating a reinforcing and acknowledging atmosphere the nursing staff remains happier and thus relationships are forged, communication improves and the patient care concept is inadvertently enriched (Neill, Saunders, 2008). The care of patients is an ever-changing tide, the use of EBP within care is a keystone in development of the best patient care experience, by utilizing the idea of foresight within a nursing community and unit the servant-leadership theory proves yet again to be multifaceted as promoting not only excellent nursing professional success but also success of recovery in the patient populations being