Self-Assessment Of Leadership Skills

  1. Determine your preferred leadership style using The Foundation of Nursing Leadership's Leadership Development - Test One - What is your leadership style?Links to an external site.
  2. Analyze your leadership’s skills based on your self-assessment.
  3. Identify strengths and opportunities for improvement based on your self-assessment.
  4. Create an action plan to address self-assessment capitalizing on strengths and addressing opportunities for improvement.

Full Answer Section

     
  1. Analyzing Your Leadership Skills:
Once you complete the assessment, analyze the results to understand your dominant leadership style. Common leadership styles include:
  • Transformational: Inspire and motivate others to achieve their full potential.
  • Servant: Prioritize the needs and development of their team members.
  • Participative: Involve team members in decision-making processes.
  • Directive: Provide clear instructions and expect results.
  • Situational: Adapt their style based on the situation and team needs.
  1. Identifying Strengths and Opportunities:
After identifying your dominant style, reflect on its strengths and weaknesses in a nursing leadership context.
  • Strengths:
    • How does your style benefit your team and patients?
    • Does it promote collaboration, clear communication, or effective problem-solving?
  • Opportunities for Improvement:
    • Are there situations where a different style might be more effective?
    • Do you need to develop skills in areas like delegation, conflict resolution, or providing constructive feedback?
  1. Creating an Action Plan:
Based on your self-assessment, develop a plan to enhance your leadership skills:
  • Capitalize on Strengths:
    • Seek opportunities to leverage your strengths in your current role.
    • Consider mentoring or coaching others based on your leadership style.
  • Address Weaknesses:
    • Identify specific skills for improvement.
    • Enroll in leadership development programs, workshops, or online courses.
    • Seek feedback from colleagues or mentors to identify areas for growth.
  • Set SMART Goals:
    • Establish Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals for your development.
    • Track your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
Additional Tips:
  • Observe other effective leaders and identify practices you can incorporate into your own style.
  • Practice your leadership skills in low-pressure situations before applying them in high-stakes scenarios.
  • Seek feedback regularly from colleagues, superiors, and subordinates to gauge your effectiveness.
By taking a proactive approach to self-assessment and development, you can strengthen your leadership skills and become a more effective leader in your nursing career.  

Sample Answer

   

1. Self-Assessment:

There are various leadership style assessments available online. You can search for "The Foundation of Nursing Leadership's Leadership Development - Test One - What is your leadership style?" or explore other reliable leadership style assessments. These assessments typically involve answering questions about your preferred behaviors in leadership situations.