Top 5 leadership styles in nursing: From theory to practice

Leadership isn’t just reserved for executives or administrators—it’s crucial at every level of nursing. Whether you’re managing a team of nurses, leading a shift in the emergency room, or guiding new graduates, your leadership style and skills directly influence both patient care and staff satisfaction. Strong leadership helps foster better communication, improves patient outcomes, and enhances the overall work environment.

Effective leadership in nursing requires empathy, strategic thinking, and adaptability, especially in a constantly evolving field like health care. This is where Oklahoma City University’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program comes in. Through advanced coursework and leadership-focused training, you can develop the skills needed to excel in health care management and transform patient care delivery.

In this blog, we’ll explore different leadership styles in nursing, strategies for incorporating them, and how an MSN program can help you take the next step in your nurse leadership career

Understanding leadership in nursing

Leadership in nursing is more than holding a management title; it’s about fostering a collaborative environment where patients receive high-quality care, and staff feel supported and motivated. Nurse leaders can empower nurses to advance their skills and careers. Good leadership has a direct impact on patient outcomes and staff morale.¹ Nurse leaders work to create more efficient processes to provide better care. They fight for their nurses by trying to get additional funding, recruiting more nurses, and prioritizing safety and patient care.² Effective leadership can reduce nurse burnout, lower turnover rates, and even improve patient satisfaction scores.

Conversely, poor leadership can lead to miscommunication, decreased staff morale, and even medical errors. In the complex world of health care, where decisions often need to be made quickly, leadership can be the difference between life and death.

5 different types of leadership styles in nursing

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership in nursing. Different situations require different styles, and effective leaders know when to adapt. Here are five different leadership styles often seen in nursing:

Transformational leadership

Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their teams by creating a shared vision and encouraging innovation.¹ This leadership style creates a positive, collaborative environment that pushes nurses to work together to provide exceptional care to their patients. These leaders are change agents, continually taking action in any scenario and pushing their staff to reach their full potential.³ A transformational leader in nursing would support and mentor their team members.⁴

Democratic leadership

Democratic leaders value collaboration and encourage input from all team members. Democratic leaders make decisions based on the collective, fostering a sense of inclusion and shared responsibility.¹ A nurse leader with a democratic leadership style might hold regular team meetings where nurses can voice their concerns and contribute to developing new protocols.⁴ This type of style might not work well in urgent situations as they require quick decision-making, which doesn’t allow for collective input.⁵

Servant leadership

Servant leadership is the most adaptable as it focuses on the nursing team.⁵ Servant leaders prioritize the needs of their team members and seek to support them in achieving their goals.¹ Leaders must adjust their style to match the nurses’ needs, skills, and knowledge. This leadership style focuses on empathy, communication, listening, and empowerment. A nurse manager who regularly puts their staff’s needs first embodies the principles of servant leadership.⁴

Autocratic leadership

Autocratic leaders make decisions independently, with little input from others. This style can be effective in high-pressure situations where quick decision-making is essential. In critical care units, for example, an autocratic leader might take charge during emergencies, directing staff to ensure rapid and efficient patient care.¹ Outside of crisis situations this leadership style can seem rigid and can lead to a lack of collaboration and low morale. To keep a positive work environment, there needs to be a balance between this style and other styles, like democratic leadership.⁴

Laissez-faire leadership

Laissez-faire leaders take a hands-off approach, allowing their teams to work independently and make their own decisions.¹ While this can foster autonomy, it can also lead to disorganization if the team lacks self-motivation or direction. In a well-established nursing unit with experienced staff, laissez-faire leadership might work well, allowing nurses to manage their workflow with minimal oversight. If the team of nurses needs additional support, the leader must adjust to another leadership style.⁵ For example, if a team adds a number of new graduates, more guidance will be needed.

What is the most effective leadership style in nursing?

While each leadership style has its merits, transformational leadership is often considered the most effective in nursing. This is because it focuses on inspiring and motivating staff and fostering a positive work environment. Nurses working under transformational leaders tend to be more engaged, more satisfied with their jobs, and more likely to stay long-term. These factors all contribute to better patient outcomes and more cohesive team dynamics.³

However, the effectiveness of a leadership style depends on several factors, including the specific health care setting, the team’s experience level, and the situation at hand. For example, in a fast-paced emergency room, autocratic leadership might be more effective during crises, while democratic leadership could be ideal in a collaborative research setting. The most successful nurse leaders are those who can adapt their style to fit the needs of their team and the demands of the situation.

Implementing leadership styles in nursing management

How can you put these leadership styles into practice? Here are a few strategies for adapting and implementing different leadership approaches in nursing management:

• Assess the situation: Evaluate your team’s needs and the current challenges they face. Is quick decision-making needed, or is there room for team collaboration? Use this assessment to guide your leadership style
• Be flexible: No leadership style is effective 100% of the time. Learn to pivot between different styles based on the dynamics of the team and the situation. A good leader must also be flexible to manage all the changes in health care. Leaders have to manage new technology, changing standards, and new processes, so being able to quickly adapt to these changes is crucial¹
• Foster open communication: Maintaining clear and open lines of communication is critical. Nurses need to feel heard, and patients need to feel informed. Allowing open communication for all promotes teamwork and collaboration.⁶ A manager might implement regular team meetings in order for nurses to voice any questions or concerns. This would allow the manager to implement new processes that truly benefit the nurses, which could lead to better patient outcomes
• Lead by example: Whether you’re implementing a new initiative or handling a crisis, your team will look to you for guidance. Model the behavior you expect from your staff. Provide feedback to your staff, so your expectations are clear³
• Offer support: Especially in stressful health care environments, offering emotional and professional support to your staff is essential. This can be as simple as checking in with your team regularly or offering continuing education opportunities⁶

Furthering your education in nursing is also a great way to grow your leadership skills and find the styles that work best for you. 

Elevate your nursing leadership with OCU’s online MSN program

Leadership is a skill that can be developed and refined. Whether you naturally gravitate towards transformational leadership or prefer a more democratic approach, Oklahoma City University’s online MSN program can help you hone your leadership abilities and equip you with the knowledge to manage teams effectively in any health care setting. Choose the leadership specialization to develop the skills needed to to enforce policies, oversee caregiving, manage finances, and examine operations to find areas of improvement.

The program’s curriculum explores various leadership theories and styles, learning how to apply them in real-world scenarios. You’ll also learn how leadership impacts patient outcomes, staff retention, and organizational success. The curriculum is designed to give you the flexibility to study on your schedule while still offering comprehensive, in-depth training in nursing leadership.

Ready to elevate your career and become the kind of leader your team and patients can rely on? Visit our admissions page and schedule a call with an admissions advisor today to learn more about Oklahoma City University’s online MSN program.