Assignment: NU 605 Week 1 Assignment 1: Leadership Analysis
Every business or department needs leadership in order to run smoothly. Leaders come together with their followers to accomplish tasks. Northouse (2017) states, “leaders must include followers and their interests in the process of leadership” (p. 7). Leaders and followers should be able to depend on each other’s contribution for the success of the final product. He further mentions that a leader needs to be fully aware of the followers and the followers’ interests, ideas, positions, attitudes, and motivations. To achieve this, leaders must listen to and understand the followers for the collaboration to work; hence why a relationship between the two groups is required.
The results from the conceptualizing questionnaire revealed that I look at leadership as an ability, a behavior, and a process. These leadership types have some key characteristics that I believe make a good leader. For instance, for ability-one might develop good leadership abilities that make them a capable leader. I scored highest on the influence process. I believe that leadership as an influence process is a period of getting to know each other; leader and follower. According to Northouse (2017), “Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal” (p. 7). The leader uses this time to bring his/her expectations to the table, introduce them to the followers, listen to what they have to say, find out whether they have any ideas to add, then devise means of how to complete the goals. I believe that in order for a leader to be successful and achieve their set goals and tasks, they have to present their ideas to the followers and explain what needs to be done in order to obtain those goals. Huber (2018) emphasizes the fact that, leaders do not operate in isolation. He mentions that leadership involves cooperation and collaboration. Since tasks cannot be accomplished on an individual basis, teamwork is encouraged (p. 17).
Working as a team produces much desired outcomes and hence a fulfilment for all that participated. I have witnessed influence process in the health care system, particularly in nursing homes. The supervisors usually use their relationship with followers as a getway to delegate tasks, such as obtaining vital signs, weights, and documentation to ensure tasks are completed in a timely manner. The leaders will communicate with their teams and give them a timeline for when these tasks need to be completed. Such leadership works most of the time and will produce results, however, sometimes it does not work, and that may be due to a department being short staffed. But let’s not forget that for all this to come to fruition, there must be an established relationship between the leaders and their teams.
I scored lowest on leadership as a skill. While I appreciate leadership as a skill, and it works in certain areas like fundraising and auctions, I find that this type of leadership can be maintained for only a short while. Today, change is now the norm, and what succeeded in the past is no longer a guide to what will succeed in the future. In a world where change is inevitable and advanced technology is widely used, you will find that you might not need leadership as a skill kind of leader to run a fundraiser, because technology will take over. There might also come a time where people will place their bids in the comfort of their homes. In my opinion, leadership as a skill will soon fade away, and be replaced by advanced technology.
As per the questionnaire, I am a new at being a leader. I have not established the characteristics of a strong leader yet. My leadership characteristics combines 3 types of leadership: ability, behavior, and influence process. There are bits and pieces of these 3 types of leadership that I possess; some characteristics being good communication with others, the ability to work on a team, and being a fair and just leader. But there a lot of work left to do in order to improve my leadership, such as my decision making, delegation, and multitasking skills. I have had the opportunity to be leader as I am a supervisor on a floor in a nursing home. I have gained many skills that I hope will make my transition to a bigger department or more senior level position easier. Just like Northouse (2017) said, “a person who had leadership ability is able to be a leader-that is, has the capability to lead” (p. 2). I do think that everyone can lead in every leadership position, as long as they learn what is required for them to be a good leader.
The roles of nurse leader and nurse manager are confusing and often overlap each other. Most times, I cannot differentiate what exactly each of these positions’ tasks entail, but I have learned that it is the nurse leader’s position to foster communication, good relationships among the followers, and also monitor the day-to-day operation of a department. And therefore, according to my scores, I believe that a nurse leader needs to have characteristics of leadership as a relationship, leadership as an influence process, and leadership as an ability. The nurse managers mainly focus on planning, organizing, staffing directing, and controlling the department. Williamson (2020) mentions, “Nurse managers are their source of information, advice and guidance, but they also want- and-deserve-encouragement, clear expectations and direction, and some teaching and coaching”. It is for such reasons that nurse managers too need to have leadership as a relationship perspective, because they too will need followers to help them in achieving their goals, but also to listen to them when they have questions or in need of suggestions. Leaders and managers can work together to promote teamwork, and advocate for success in their department. In order to gain a full understanding of both nurse leader and nurse manager titles, you have to know what each leader’s responsibilities are. Huber (2018) states, “If the delivery of nursing services involves the organization and coordination of complex activities in the human services realm, then both leadership and management are important elements” (p. 3). Both positions are important in leadership and in the successful operation of a department. I believe that in order to be a manager, one has to learn to be a nurse leader. Knowing how to accomplish the day-to-day goals is very crucial in the running of a department. As a nurse manager, it is also important to value other people’s opinion and input.
From the questionnaire, I know that I do not have to have leadership as a relationship. I can work on some of the leadership skills and become a great leader. For instance, I want work on my relationship with my followers, how to form good relationships with my followers, earn the trust of my followers, how and when to listen to their suggestions and opinions. Not all leaders are born, some are made. .
Week 1 Assignment 1: Leadership Analysis
Value: 100 points
Due: Day 7
Grading Category: Writing Assignments
Instructions
Complete the assigned readings and the “Conceptualizing Leadership Questionnaire” in Northouse, Chapter 1.
The Leadership Analysis Paper should be approximately 3–4 pages long, not counting the cover page or references list.
Include the following:
- Comprehension: Share the findings of the questionnaire.
- Application: Of the six dimensions in the questionnaire (trait, ability, skill, behavior, relationship, and process), which one is the most similar to your own perspective? Which one is least like your own perspective?
- Analysis/Synthesis: What do the scores you received on the questionnaire suggest about your perspective on leadership?
- Evaluation: What do your scores imply about your view of nurses as leaders versus managers? How are the results of this questionnaire beneficial to you as a leader?
Please refer to the for details on how this activity will be graded.
To Submit Your Assignment:
- Select the Add Submissions button.
- Drag or upload your file to the File Picker.
- Select Save Changes.
Note: Scholarly resources are defined as evidence-based practice, peer-reviewed journals; textbook (do not rely solely on your textbook as a reference); and National Standard Guidelines. Review assignment instructions, as this will provide any additional requirements that are not specifically listed on the rubric.
Important information for writing discussion questions and participation
Welcome to class
Hello class and welcome to the class and I will be your instructor for this course. This is a -week course and requires a lot of time commitment, organization, and a high level of dedication. Please use the class syllabus to guide you through all the assignments required for the course. I have also attached the classroom policies to this announcement to know your expectations for this course. Please review this document carefully and ask me any questions if you do. You could email me at any time or send me a message via the “message” icon in halo if you need to contact me. I check my email regularly, so you should get a response within 24 hours. If you have not heard from me within 24 hours and need to contact me urgently, please send a follow up text to
I strongly encourage that you do not wait until the very last minute to complete your assignments. Your assignments in weeks 4 and 5 require early planning as you would need to present a teaching plan and interview a community health provider. I advise you look at the requirements for these assignments at the beginning of the course and plan accordingly. I have posted the YouTube link that explains all the class assignments in detail. It is required that you watch this 32-minute video as the assignments from week 3 through 5 require that you follow the instructions to the letter to succeed. Failure to complete these assignments according to instructions might lead to a zero. After watching the video, please schedule a one-on-one with me to discuss your topic for your project by the second week of class. Use this link to schedule a 15-minute session. Please, call me at the time of your appointment on my number. Please note that I will NOT call you.
Please, be advised I do NOT accept any assignments by email. If you are having technical issues with uploading an assignment, contact the technical department and inform me of the issue. If you have any issues that would prevent you from getting your assignments to me by the deadline, please inform me to request a possible extension. Note that working fulltime or overtime is no excuse for late assignments. There is a 5%-point deduction for every day your assignment is late. This only applies to approved extensions. Late assignments will not be accepted.
If you think you would be needing accommodations due to any reasons, please contact the appropriate department to request accommodations.
Plagiarism is highly prohibited. Please ensure you are citing your sources correctly using APA 7th edition. All assignments including discussion posts should be formatted in APA with the appropriate spacing, font, margin, and indents. Any papers not well formatted would be returned back to you, hence, I advise you review APA formatting style. I have attached a sample paper in APA format and will also post sample discussion responses in subsequent announcements.
Your initial discussion post should be a minimum of 200 words and response posts should be a minimum of 150 words. Be advised that I grade based on quality and not necessarily the number of words you post. A minimum of TWO references should be used for your initial post. For your response post, you do not need references as personal experiences would count as response posts. If you however cite anything from the literature for your response post, it is required that you cite your reference. You should include a minimum of THREE references for papers in this course. Please note that references should be no more than 5 years old except recommended as a resource for the class. Furthermore, for each discussion board question, you need ONE initial substantive response and TWO substantive responses to either your classmates or your instructor for a total of THREE responses. There are TWO discussion questions each week, hence, you need a total minimum of SIX discussion posts for each week. I usually post a discussion question each week. You could also respond to these as it would count towards your required SIX discussion posts for the week.
I understand this is a lot of information to cover in 5 weeks, however, the Bible says in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us. Even in times like this, we are encouraged by God’s word that we have that ability in us to succeed with His strength. I pray that each and every one of you receives strength for this course and life generally as we navigate through this pandemic that is shaking our world today. Relax and enjoy the course!
Hi Class,
Please read through the following information on writing a Discussion question response and participation posts.
Contact me if you have any questions.
Important information on Writing a Discussion Question
- Your response needs to be a minimum of 150 words (not including your list of references)
- There needs to be at least TWO references with ONE being a peer reviewed professional journal article.
- Include in-text citations in your response
- Do not include quotes—instead summarize and paraphrase the information
- Follow APA-7th edition
- Points will be deducted if the above is not followed
Participation –replies to your classmates or instructor
- A minimum of 6 responses per week, on at least 3 days of the week.
- Each response needs at least ONE reference with citations—best if it is a peer reviewed journal article
- Each response needs to be at least 75 words in length (does not include your list of references)
- Responses need to be substantive by bringing information to the discussion or further enhance the discussion. Responses of “I agree” or “great post” does not count for the word count.
- Follow APA 7th edition
- Points will be deducted if the above is not followed
- Remember to use and follow APA-7th edition for all weekly assignments, discussion questions, and participation points.
- Here are some helpful links
- The is a great resource
| Criteria | Exemplary Exceeds Expectations |
Advanced Meets Expectations |
Intermediate Needs Improvement |
Novice Inadequate |
Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content of Paper | The writer demonstrates a well-articulated understanding of the subject matter in a clear, complex, and informative manner. The paper content and theories are well developed and linked to the paper requirements and practical experience. The paper includes relevant material that fulfills all objectives of the paper.
Follows the assignment instructions around expectations for scholarly references. Uses scholarly resources that were not provided in the course materials. All instruction requirements noted. 30 points |
The writer demonstrates an understanding of the subject matter, and components of the paper are accurately represented with explanations and application of knowledge to include evidence-based practice, ethics, theory, and/or role. Course materials and scholarly resources support required concepts. The paper includes relevant material that fulfills all objectives of the paper.
Follows the assignment instructions around expectations for scholarly references. All instruction requirements noted. 26 points |
The writer demonstrates a moderate understanding of the subject matter as evidenced by components of the paper being summarized with minimal application to evidence-based practice, theory, or role-development. Course content is present but missing depth and or development.
Does not follow the assignment instructions around expectations for scholarly references. Only uses scholarly resources that were provided in the course materials. Most instruction requirements are noted. 23 points |
Absent application to evidence-based practice, theory, or role development. Use of course content is superficial.
Demonstrates incomplete understanding of content and/or inadequate preparation. Content of paper is inaccurately portrayed or missing. Does not follow the assignment instructions around expectations for scholarly references. Does not use scholarly resources. Missing some instruction requirements. 20 points |
30 |
| Analysis and Synthesis of Paper Content and Meaning | Through critical analysis, the submitted paper provides an accurate, clear, concise, and complete presentation of the required content.
Information from scholarly resources is synthesized, providing new information or insight related to the context of the assignment by providing both supportive and alternative information or viewpoints. All instruction requirements noted. 30 points |
Paper is complete, providing evidence of further synthesis of course content via scholarly resources.
Information is synthesized to help fulfill paper requirements. The content supports at least one viewpoint. All instruction requirements noted. 26 points |
Paper lacks clarification or new information. Scholarly reference supports the content without adding any new information or insight. The paper’s content may be confusing or unclear, and the summary may be incomplete.
Most instruction requirements are noted. 23 points |
Submission is primarily a summation of the assignment without further synthesis of course content or analysis of the scenario.
Demonstrates incomplete understanding of content and/or inadequate preparation. Missing some instruction requirements. Submits assignment late. 20 points |
30 |
| Application of Knowledge | The summary of the paper provides information validated via scholarly resources that offer a multidisciplinary approach.
The student’s application in practice is accurate and plausible, and additional scholarly resource(s) supporting the application is provided. All questions posed within the assignment are answered in a well-developed manner with citations for validation. All instruction requirements noted. 30 points |
A summary of the paper’s content, findings, and knowledge gained from the assignment is presented.
Student indicates how the information will be used within their professional practice. All instruction requirements noted. 26 points |
Objective criteria are not clearly used, allowing for a more superficial application of content between the assignment and the broader course content.
Student’s indication of how they will apply this new knowledge to their clinical practice is vague. Most instruction requirements are noted. 23 points |
The application of knowledge is significantly lacking.
Student’s indication of how they will apply this new knowledge to their clinical practice is not practical or feasible. Demonstrates incomplete understanding of content and/or inadequate preparation. Application of knowledge is incorrect and/or student fails to explain how the information will be used within their personal practice. Missing several instruction requirements. Submits assignment late. 20 points |
30 |
| Organization | Well-organized content with a clear and complex purpose statement and content argument. Writing is concise with a logical flow of ideas.
5 points |
Organized content with an informative purpose statement and supportive content and summary statement. Argument content is developed with minimal issues in content flow.
4 points |
Poor organization, and flow of ideas distract from content. Narrative is difficult to follow and frequently causes reader to reread work.
Purpose statement is noted. 3 points |
Illogical flow of ideas. Missing significant content. Prose rambles. Purpose statement is unclear or missing.
Demonstrates incomplete understanding of content and/or inadequate preparation. No purpose statement. Submits assignment late. 2 points |
5 |
| APA, Grammar, and Spelling | Correct APA formatting with no errors.
The writer correctly identifies reading audience, as demonstrated by appropriate language (avoids jargon and simplifies complex concepts appropriately). Writing is concise, in active voice, and avoids awkward transitions and overuse of conjunctions. There are no spelling, punctuation, or word-usage errors. 5 points |
Correct and consistent APA formatting of references and cites all references used. No more than two unique APA errors.
The writer demonstrates correct usage of formal English language in sentence construction. Variation in sentence structure and word usage promotes readability. There are minimal to no grammar, punctuation, or word-usage errors. 4 points |
Three to four unique APA formatting errors.
The writer occasionally uses awkward sentence construction or overuses/inappropriately uses complex sentence structure. Problems with word usage (evidence of incorrect use of thesaurus) and punctuation persist, often causing some difficulties with grammar. Some words, transitional phrases, and conjunctions are overused. Multiple grammar, punctuation, or word usage errors. 3 points |
Five or more unique formatting errors or no attempt to format in APA.
The writer demonstrates limited understanding of formal written language use; writing is colloquial (conforms to spoken language). The writer struggles with limited vocabulary and has difficulty conveying meaning such that only the broadest, most general messages are presented. Grammar and punctuation are consistently incorrect. Spelling errors are numerous. Submits assignment late. 2 points |
5 |
| Total Points | 100 | ||||
