Leadership skills are important in helping a nurse manager to effectively ensure that an organization achieves the desired goals and objectives. It is also important for nurse managers to understand their strengths as well as their weaknesses in different areas that will enable the nurses to implement effectively strategies to improve some of their weak areas (Cherry & Jacob, 2019).

Nurse managers can use the AONE Competency Self-Assessment Tool to evaluate their leadership skills and competence levels in different areas. This tool provides information on the skills, abilities, and knowledge of nurse managers an aspect that provides more insight on some of the hidden spots and areas that require improvement (Cherry & Jacob, 2019).

The AONE Competency Self-Assessment Tool has enabled me to identify my strengths as well as my weaknesses in different leadership areas where effective measures can be implemented to enhance my competence level in my weak areas.

Personal and Professional Accountability

Based on the results from the AONE Competency Self-Assessment, one of the strengths indicated in relation to personal and professional accountability is my ability to develop new improvements in my profession as a practicing nurse (AONE, 2019). Due to the changing patient needs, continuous improvements have enabled me to stay up to date with the current information and evidence-based research that has improved my performance in diverse aspects (Cherry & Jacob, 2019).

Innovation has played a key role in finding new ways of addressing some of the healthcare situations as these interventions are more efficient in terms of saving on the costs associated with performing some of the activities as well as achieving the desired healthcare goals (Cherry & Jacob, 2019). This has been achieved through collaborating with other healthcare practitioners who provide diverse opinions from different perspectives.

Another way is through continuous learning that has enabled me to increase my nursing knowledge enabling me to address some of the complex issues that were previously difficult for me (Cherry & Jacob, 2019). However, the results also pointed out one of my weakness in the area of personal and professional accountability which is not being responsible for my mistakes with most of the time shifting the blame to other members (AONE, 2019).

This further worsens the situation and affects my relationship with other staff members. This can be effectively addressed by being more responsible for my mistakes and taking the right measures to address any negative effects that are associated to the mistakes (Cherry & Jacob, 2019).

Career Planning

Career planning is an important aspect in healthcare where healthcare practitioners should implement measures aimed at improving their competence level as well as grow in their career (Finkelman & American Nurses Association, 2017). One of my strengths in relation to this aspect is my ability to effectively plan and implement strategies that have ensured my growth in my career in diverse aspects (AONE, 2019). I have always reviewed and amended my career goals after every five years.

This involves a review of what I have been able to achieve as well as what goals need to be amended based on current research as well as healthcare policies (Finkelman & American Nurses Association, 2017). This has ensured a continuous growth where my competence level has largely increased compared to the beginning times of my career.

A weakness that I had in this area is poor communication which is necessary in exchanging information with other members (AONE, 2019). This allows members to interact with one another where important information may be shared to help one in improving his/her competence level as well as effectively plan his/her career by developing reliable goals (Finkelman & American Nurses Association, 2017).

Personal Journey Disciplines

Discipline in the healthcare profession is an important aspect as this may affect the achievement of healthcare goals in different aspects. One of my strengths in relation to personal journey disciplines is adherence to healthcare policies and ethics (AONE, 2019). These principles have been developed to improve the delivery of healthcare services as well as prevent some of the negative effects that are associated with a negative behavior (Sotomayor & Rankin, 2017).

Due to the nature of the nursing profession, it is important to adhere to these principles and guidelines to prevent causing harm or facing lawsuits from breaking the law. A weakness that I have in this area is the lack of the patience (AONE, 2019). Patience is key virtue that I have had trouble upholding which may be attributed to the complex issues faced in managing other workers as well as addressing some of the healthcare challenges that may affect the performance of the organization (Sotomayor & Rankin, 2017).

Reflective Practice Reference Behaviors/Tenets

Individuals’ behaviors and communication with other members may be affected by their personality traits which may lead to conflicts affecting healthy relationships with other members as well as the performance of the organization (Sotomayor & Rankin, 2017). It is important for healthcare workers to adopt professional behaviors to prevent these conflicts.

One of my strengths in this area is promoting healthy and professional behaviors in the organization (AONE, 2019. This has enabled me to have a good level of integrity by following and strictly adhering to the required standards in a healthcare setting. This has also helped me to set a good example to other employees of the organization which has positively contributed to the achievement of healthcare goals by creating a disciplined team (Sotomayor & Rankin, 2017).

My weakness in this area is ignoring some guidelines which interfere with my freedom to make critical decisions in addressing some of the complex issues faced in a healthcare setting (AONE, 2019).

Using Current Leadership Skill Set To Advocate for Change in My Workplace

My current leadership skill set can be useful in advocating for change in my workplace in the aim of improving healthcare delivery in the organization. With information about my strengths, this can be used to enhance leadership in the organization where other leaders can be included in addressing some of the areas where I have a weakness in (Moodie, 2016).

An effective communication process as well a conducive environment can be developed that allows other members to participate in the decision-making process. This will enable every leader to exercise his/her strengths in different areas which will help on addressing some of the challenges that may affect the performance of the organization (Moodie, 2016).

By being a good example to other workers in adhering to the set guidelines, this will transform the organization in diverse aspects as members will be able to adhere to all regulations and policies that are meant to improve healthcare delivery in the organization (Moodie, 2016).

Personal Goal

One personal goal for my leadership growth is to improve my communication and interpersonal skills. This is important as it will improve my relationship with other members of the organization which also increases trust (Khoshhal & Guraya, 2016). Increased trust plays a key role in creating an environment where members are able to interact and relate with one another in an organization.

One of the weaknesses identified is poor communication which has also affected my interpersonal skills (Khoshhal & Guraya, 2016). As a leader it is important to effectively communicate with other members of the organization as well as relate with them in diverse aspects.

This can be achieved by creating an organizational culture where members of the organization are able to interact with leaders in different perspectives (Khoshhal & Guraya, 2016). Adopting servant leadership is one of the ways to achieve this goal where the leader serves other members of the organization which creates a good environment for interaction.

References

• American Association of Nurse Executives [AONE]. (2019). Nurse Manager Inventory tool. Retrieved from http://www.aone.org/resources/online-assessments.shtml
• Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. R. (2019). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, & management. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.
• Finkelman, A. W., & American Nurses Association. (2017). Teaching IOM/HMD: Implications of the Institute of Medicine and Health & Medicine Division reports for nursing education. Silver, Md: American Nurses Association.
• Khoshhal, K. I., & Guraya, S. Y. (2016). Leaders produce leaders and managers produce followers. A systematic review of the desired competencies and standard settings for physicians’ leadership. Saudi medical journal, 37(10), 1061–1067.
• Moodie, R. (2016). Learning About Self: Leadership Skills for Public Health. Journal of public health research, 5(1), 679.
• Sotomayor, G., & Rankin, V. (2017). Clinical Nurse Leaders: Fulfilling the Promise of the Role. Medsurg Nursing: Official journal of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, 26(1), 21-24, 32.