Emerging Nurse Leader

A leadership development blog

Building a Courageous Culture

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By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN A new leader is frustrated because she wants to engage her unit staff in unit governance, but there is little interest.  She tells me that "I really want their input, but they say nothing."  Why is that I ask?  I learn that the former leader was somewhat toxic and used a command and control style of leadership.  Your staff … [Read more...]

Getting into Good Trouble as a Leader

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By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC             This week, we celebrate the life of and mourn the death of an iconic leader - Congressman John Lewis.  Lewis urged us to be courageous and not to walk past things that need to be changed. He recommended that we "find a way to get in trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble."  … [Read more...]

Cultivating Hope in Challenging Times

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By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN             Napoleon Bonaparte once said, "A leader is a dealer in hope." His observation is supported by Gallup's research findings of what staff wants from their leaders in times of crisis. Yet instilling hope can be challenging at a time when there are so many unknowns and life … [Read more...]

Avoiding the Escalation of Commitment Problem

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Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN A nurse leader recently asked me for advice about what to do when a leader in her organization has made a bad decision and is now doubling down on that decision even though he is wrong.  The situation involved a poor decision about a PPE supply chain that is not working out. It is a classic example of the psychological phenomena … [Read more...]

Balancing Compassion with Professional Expectations

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By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN What is the leadership balance between feeling compassion for staff who have been through so much with professional expectations? This was a question that a critical care director recently asked me.  Her staff, she explained, is understandably burned out as an outcome caring for so many COVID-19 patients. They feel a collective … [Read more...]