Recipe for a Nurse Leader: 5 Leadership Principles to Dial In

Every pathway to nursing leadership takes its own turns, but there are key leadership principles any aspiring leader should develop for success on the journey, according to Amy Woods, DNP, RN, CNOR, Chief Nursing Officer at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg, Va.

“The moment you decide to consider a path to nursing leadership, tell someone because you are surrounded by people who want to see you develop in your role—don’t be shy,” Woods advises./p>

In her own journey from perioperative nurse to OR Director to CNO, Woods has learned important strategies along the way that can help aspiring nurse leaders. Here are her top five strategies to work on.

1. Find a Mentor

Woods has three key mentors who have helped her as she’s progressed to her current leadership role. She says it’s important to seek out mentors who you feel a connection to, and most importantly, who you trust.

“A mentor provides a safe place for you to share how you are feeling, to explain a situation and tell you honestly what you could have done differently,” Woods advises. “A good mentor is always there for you, guides you and pushes you beyond your comfort zone.”

2. Learn to Recognize Feedback as Opportunity

No one is perfect and everyone has areas to improve, whether it’s presentation style, feedback sessions with direct reports, or having an executive presence in the room. Regardless of what you have to improve, own it and find ways to improve, Woods recommends. She says being open to feedback is the perfect way to understand your shortcomings, so you know what to work on.

3. Develop Your Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence has several important components that are important to nurse leaders, Woods says. The first component is self-awareness; “you have to know how others perceive you because it could be different than how you think they perceive you.”

Self-management is another important component of emotional intelligence because you have to keep your emotions in check and not be overly reactive in situations. Social awareness and relationship building skills are other aspects of emotional intelligence to work on, Woods advises.

In her workplace, Woods uses an Emotional Intelligence test to assess herself and her colleagues do, as well. The test provides a report with areas of strength and areas to work on, which Woods uses in her own leadership practice to always be improving.

4. Be Willing to Take Risks

This should be obvious, but Woods says it can be a challenge to take on a task or project you may not succeed at. “Can” should always be your first option, she stresses.

“Reach out to your mentor for guidance if you have to, but say yes when an opportunity comes up, don’t let a chance to develop new leadership skills pass you by—and if you fail, use it as a learning opportunity, either way it’s a win.”

5. Be Honest (With Yourself and Others)

Honesty, integrity and advocacy will earn respect for an aspiring leader, Woods suggests. “Sometimes you may find yourself in a position where you don’t agree with an initiative or decision. When this happens, stand by your morals and keep your integrity by speaking up for what you believe is right.”

No matter what level of leadership you reach as a nurse, always make decisions with the patient in the middle, Woods adds. “We must never lose sight of why we are nurses—the patient comes first in every decision you make as a nurse leader, no exceptions.”

Free Resources for Members

• Free Career Coaching: Get a free 90-minute career coaching session to help you on your pathway to leadership.
• AORN Leader Membership: Designed for perioperative nurse leaders who need solutions beyond clinical challenges, like staffing and budgeting, while also supporting your professional passion. Learn more.
• Leadership Specialty Assembly: Connect with other OR nurse leaders, ask questions, get advice, and more.
• Guideline Essentials: Support your team’s perioperative goals and be survey-ready with ready-to-use customizable templates and tools, such as:
  • Policy and procedure templates
  • Gap analysis tools
  • Implementation road maps
  • And more!