Part 1: After completing the reading in Northouse and Huber, and viewing the leadership PPT Part II, answer the following questions:
1. Reflect on your own leadership style, ability, and skills.

Leadership has got to do with the ability of an individual to influence others and provide direction. Leadership does not have an assigned definition – meaning that there are many definitions of leadership. In essence, leadership could be a trait, ability, skill, behavior, relationship, or a process of influence. There are many leadership styles and skills a leader could project. In my opinion, I could be a good leader because in addition to having good communication skills, I possess the ability to inspire and motivate others. I am also a good listener, honest, respectful, confident, and proactive. I am convinced I would treat everyone equally and listen to other people’s opinions before making decisions. In seeking to provide guidance and direction to my staff, I intend to be accessible to my staff via the adoption of an open door policy. I am of the opinion that to be an effective leader, I will need to develop the relevant leadership abilities through hard work and the involvement of all. If and when I assume a leadership position, I would want my staff to be involved in the entire decision making process. This is a move that would further enhance my relationship with staff members.

I am most compatible with the democratic leadership style. Democratic leaders give credit to followers for participating in various efforts in a collaborative setting. It deems all participants as equals and has no specific reference to seniority. Democratic leaders try to guide followers and give suggestions without necessarily giving orders. They ensure everyone’s opinion is accounted for. Further, they listen to followers and promote communication between groups. It is also important to note that democratic leaders also attempt to advance member satisfaction and commitment, while at the same time ensuring a friendly work environment and involving members in group decisions (Northouse, 2018). According to Fiaz et al. (2017), democratic leaders focus more on people and interaction within groups. Leadership functions are shared with more than one person in the group. The principles of democratic leadership are inclusive of friendliness and helpfulness. Democratic leaders rely on group decision making and member involvement. They attempt to involve all members of the team in deliberations.

2. In two to three paragraphs, identify the qualities or traits you believe an effective leader possesses; comment on those qualities/traits that you have.

To be an effective leader, some of the traits one must have include integrity and confidence. Being a confident leader is of great relevance. This is more so the case given that you would want followers to have the confidence to accomplish their goals. Followers perform best when led by a leader who does not second-guess himself. Having confidence is inclusive of being reasonably certain of your success.

The leadership traits that I possess are confidence and integrity. For instance, whenever I make a decision about giving a vaccine to a patient, I do not second-guess myself. I always check and recheck the relevant details so as to ensure I’m giving the right...…your behavior affects others. Towards this end, you ought to assess what effect your leadership approach has on others and attempt to make the relevant modifications. The worst leaders make mistakes and do not look back. Not learning how to fix your mistakes or become a better leader can affect others. As a leader, it is important to cultivate honesty if you want staff members to trust you. Trust enhances loyalty and dependability. A nurse would not want a leader who is not trustworthy and cannot follow-up on promises.

2. In two paragraphs, discuss one or two of the mistakes and refer to specific examples.

The biggest mistake a leader can make is betraying trust. An example in this case would be when Bill Clinton lied under oath and maintained he did not have an affair with Monica Lewinsky. He was impeached by the House of Representatives and later on acquitted. The president severally appeared on national television during the ordeal and continued to proclaim his innocence. Americans felt that the president had violated his responsibility as a leader when it was revealed that he might have lied when he gave his speech on television. Clinton’s integrity as a leader was in tatters.

Part 3: Specific requirements for this paper.

1. Your final paper should be between 500–750 words in length.

2. Follow APA 6th edition for style requirements. Ensure that citations and references are in correct format.

3. Cite at least two leadership references in your responses. Make sure your citations were published within the past five years, and use peer-reviewed scholarly articles.

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