By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
This week, we will celebrate the beginning of a new year and a new decade. This is a good time to reflect on what went well with our leadership in 2019 and what new stretch goals we may want to establish for ourselves. In his book When, Daniel Pink describes the beginning of a new year or decade as powerful temporal landmarks. It is an opportunity to look back over the past decade and then ask ourselves what we would like to accomplish in the next decade. After thinking about your goals – then ask yourself – what would need to be true that is not true today today to make it happen? This question can help break goals down into smaller steps.
There is good research to support the fact that the act of either writing down goals or publicly announcing your intent are the first steps to the successful achievement of those goals. You may have a goal to return to school to complete your BSN or attend a graduate program, achieve specialty certification or update your resume to make yourself more competitive when interesting positions become available. If you are running short of creative ideas, the following are five new year’s resolution suggestions for nurse leaders:
1. Challenge yourself to make at least one personal sacrifice this year for your long-term career success.
The idea of giving something up, especially personal time, to achieve something better at an undetermined time in the future can seem very unappealing. One truth about leadership is that it does not come without personal sacrifice. This year, think about doing at least one thing that will advance your professional career but will require an investment of your personal time. If you have avoided advancing your education to achieve long-term professional goals, this is the year to stop being defensive about what you have not done and to focus on what you will gain by beginning the journey. If you are interested in nursing leadership but have resisted taking a charge nurse role, this is the year to say yes. If you have thought about taking a certification exam in your nursing specialty but never began the process, this is the year to do just do it. Begin to see success as something that you need to incorporate into your life.
2. Commit yourself to become a continuous learner.
It is often said that the best leaders are the best learners. This is especially true for nurse leaders who work in a health care environment that is rapidly changing in unexpected ways. We know as a professional discipline that our practices should be based on the best current evidence available, but often they are not because we don’t commit ourselves to read journals, do internet searches or attend professional programs. Challenging yourself to grow and learn is a professional and personal responsibility. Outstanding leaders commit themselves to learn whether or not their organizations are paying for it or providing them with paid time off to do it.
3. Find a mentor.
You may know that you want to be a nurse leader but are unsure about your next career step. A good mentor can open doors to new learning and help you grow as a nurse leader. Unlike the preceptor relationship which you may be familiar with, a mentor provides career guidance and help you become more aware of your strengths and areas where you need development. Mentoring is an important career strategy. This is the year to look for that person.
4. Help to build a healthy work environment in your work setting.
Mahatma Gandhi is often quoted as saying “be the change that you want to see in the world”. Building a healthy work environment is not only an organizational responsibility but also the responsibility of every staff member that works in the setting. Great leaders work hard to build strong, positive cultures. Even if you are not currently in a leadership role, you have the choice of whether to engage in negative discussions and behavior in your environment. What is true is that the more that we focus on the positive aspects of our environment, the more we will notice them and start experiencing them in our work life.
5. Volunteer to coach a new graduate in their professional transition.
Every year thousands of new nurses enter practice with enthusiasm and passion for the profession that they have chosen. They are the future of nursing and may someday take care of you or one of your family members. All of us were once novice nurses. We would not be where we are today without having experienced the challenges of being a novice. New graduates often become frustrated and disillusioned as they experience the real world of health care. Good coaching can make a significant difference in both reducing the frustration often felt by new graduates and retaining them in their initial work settings. This year commit yourself to volunteer if asked and remember that your contribution to coaching future generations of nursing may have a much longer and more profound effect than anything else that you do as a professional.
There are no silver bullets in life. When you encounter successful people, you are seeing the outcome of small decisions that are made every day to move their life in a different direction. Let 2020 be the decade when you become your best self.
Read to Lead
Pink, D.H. (2018). When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. New York: Riverhead Books.
Read Rose Sherman’s new book – The Nurse Leader Coach: Become the Boss No One Wants to Leave
© emergingrnleader.com 2019
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