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Leading the leaders: the challenge of leading an empowered organization. (On Leadership).

Article Excerpt
Executive Summary

* Professionals expect to be treated as peers and equals to the leader/manager.

* Nurse leaders must concentrate on leading the empowered workforce in new and different ways.

* The rewards make the concept of "herding cats" challenging and worthwhile.

WE HAVE CREATED an interesting situation. In the move to pull nursing out of the technical, occupational framework into a professionalized workforce, we have created a group of bright people who expect to be treated as professionals, as well as technical/occupational people. Now the problem begins. The health care are environment hasn't evolved into the kind of professional environment where nurses are choosing to work. Unfortunately, in our drive to be efficient, we have designed the work processes around the "one size fits all" concept of job design. There is one job description for the nurse at the bedside. For nurses who want the freedom of a professionalized environment, it doesn't compute. Nurses justifiably see themselves as unique and different with various gifts and strengths. The literature on the generational differences, for example, makes the point that one size does not fit all. We are lagging in redesigning our environments and management styles to work effectively within the broad range of nurses who are among us. The way we lead and manage nurses in our traditional technical environment only leaves nurses dissatisfied. They are voting with their feet and leaving health care settings to find their fortunes in other positions that recognize...