January 21st Journal Reflection

Jan. 21st Reflection

What did you actually learn from the unit

Without good leadership, the workplace is at risk of deteriorating. Leadership is important in organizing workflow and encouraging staff to succeed. There are several characteristics that make up a great leader. I gleaned a lot of information from an article by Milton and Jacqueline Mayfield called The Effects of Leader Motivating Language Use on Employee Decision Making.

The following questions come from the appendix from this article. They are questions that reflect traits of a great leader.

1. Gives me useful explanations of what needs to be done in my work.
   
2. Offers me helpful directions on how to do my job.
   
3. Provides me with easily understandable instructions about my work.
   
4. Offers me helpful advice on how to improve my work.
   
5. Gives me good definitions of what I must do in order to receive rewards.
   
6. Gives me clear instructions about solving job related problems.
   
7. Offers me specific information on how I am evaluated.
   
8. Provides me with helpful information about forthcoming changes affecting my
   work.
   
9. Provides me with helpful information about past changes affecting my work.
   
10. Shares news with me about organizational achievements and financial status.
    

EMPATHETIC LANGUAGE

11. Gives me praise for my good work.
    
12. Shows me encouragement for my work efforts.
    
13. Shows concern about my job satisfaction.
    
14. Expresses his/her support for my professional development.
    
15. Asks me about my professional well-being.
    
16. Shows trust in me.
    

MEANING MAKING LANGUAGE

17. Tells me stories about key events in the organization’s past.
    
18. Gives me useful information that I couldn’t get through official channels.
    
19. Tells me stories about people who are admired in my organization.
    
20. Tells me stories about people who have worked hard in this organization.
    
21. Offers me advice about how to behave at the organization’s social
    gatherings.
    
22. Offers me advice about how to “fit in” with other members of this
    organization.
    
23. Tells me stories about people who have been rewarded by this organization.
    
24. Tells me stories about people who have left this organization.

Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

As I researched individuals in this assignment to determine if they were leaders, I found through my research and the research of my team, that there are many leaders in the world. Leaders can even include people who have a poor value system; they attract followers and can convince them to follow their ways. I like my team member Nate's definition: "Leaders inspire people to move toward a common purpose."

How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice

This week I worked under a medical assistant that is in a leader-like position. I didn't have a very positive experience. After learning the qualities/traits of a good leader, having experienced some negative traits of a leader, and remembering positive traits from other leaders in similar situations, this lesson has motivated me to become the kind of leader that's mentioned in the above readings and other readings I've found. 

Your personal feelings about the material covered

This week's lesson has been a coincidence due to experiences I've had this week. I was able to witness bad leadership skills versus good leadership skills and through readings learn great leadership skills. I hope to develop great leadership skills so I can be a positive influence in people's lives just as others have been positive influences in mine.