MY OPINION ON CLINICAL LEADERSHIP

Clinical leadership is a very deep concept of leadership that if one is not careful enough they can easily be swayed off to think of someone in leadership position in the clinical setting to be a leader. I agree that there is the possibility of a ward manager or nurse being in leadership position yet they do not get any close to being a clinical leader. I also agree to David’s description and interpretation of leadership. In fact evident in various literatures there is need to redefine clinical leadership based on values of the leader rather than the position. Based on the research done through questionnaires that were unbiased and interviews with top clinical leaders it is very evident that there is a plethora of characters a clinical leader should have.

First off, a clinical leader should be an expert in clinical setting. This is agreeable as the clinical leader will be able to express other qualities while in the clinical setting. This means that they should be competent in a specific clinical jurisdiction. Additionally, they should be rich in knowledge of the clinical setting. With this they are able to spot teams and know relationships between other workers as well as how they work. Another quality is effective communication this determines the ability of the leader to convince others from the best view point.  The leader must listen to their peers as well as the patients and be able to lead through their own opinion. Respect for others, empowerment and team-building is part and parcel of clinical leadership as it helps create working relationships. It is this quality that brings the best out of other staff in the clinical setting.
Clinical leaders should also be change initiators, be in a position to provide better care and enhance the care. It is true that vision does not qualify to be a characteristic of a clinical leader because the leader’s vision will not be the driver of change instead their principle will. The leader must be open and thus approachable by others who view them as a role model. Most important is the leader being a role model through their values. Lastly, the leader should be visible in through all of the above qualities making them peculiar in their line of work.
Clinical leadership intersperses between transformational leadership and congruent leadership. This translates to the leader having the qualities that make leadership fall in the two paradigms. First the leader should be able to have direction, align the workforce, motivate and inspire others, change oriented, have a well grounded principle, communicate effectively and be creative as well as innovative. In terms of congruent leadership the leader should be approachable and open, visible in the sense of their uniqueness and performance, empowered, principled, a communicators, and motivational as well as inspirational.
Clinical leadership is more than just a surface term describing leadership. Someone who lacks expertise in the clinical setting cannot and does not qualify to be referred to as a clinical leader. The above qualities can be eminent even in people who have no role or position of leadership in the clinical setting so there is no direct relationship between clinical leadership and position. As such, the character of Florence makes her more of a nursing leader besides being powerful and successful role model for various domains. She however had attributes of a congruent leader.