Running Head: LEADERSHIP - TASK 1

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SAT2- Leadership Task 1 Lauren Hutcheson ID#: 282778 April 14, 2014 MBA – Healthcare Western Governors University

Running Head: LEADERSHIP - TASK 1

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A1. Leadership Style Upon conducting research, it is clear that the definition of “leadership” is not agreed upon. It is fluid, based upon many perceptions, situations, and surroundings. According to Robinson (2010), adopting a specific style of leadership is rather futile as it is, “contingent on the personal traits of the leader, the people being led, and the nature of the activity.” Tools are available to help guide potential leaders in determining a preferred style of leadership. For example, utilizing the “Leadership Self-Assessment Quiz: What Style of Leader Are You or Would Be?” as created by Durbin, 2009 it was determined that my leadership skills lean towards becoming a participative leader. As defined by Dubrin (2009), participative leadership shares decision-making with the group and its members. Participative leadership encompasses so many behaviors and characteristics that it can be divided into three subtypes: consultative, consensus, and democratic. Consultative leaders confer with group members before making a decision. However, they retain the final authority in making those decisions. Consensus leaders strive for consensus while democratic leaders confer final authority to the group. They function as collectors of group opinion and take a vote before making a decision. This style of management works well within the setting of a small, physician-owned orthopedic hospital where the nurses have input regarding many aspects of how the operating room functions and flows. It is these nurses that are on the “front lines” and are directly influenced and impacted by decisions regarding the purchasing of equipment and materials, creation of policies, and the