Sullivan, E.J., & Decker

According to our text a leader is "anyone who uses interpersonal skills to influence others to accomplish a specific goal" (Sullivan & Decker, 2009). A manager is someone who is hired to do specific tasks. The book also says that a good manager is also a good leader. A person can be good at managing one aspect of their job and not be a good leader to employees. Luckily these skills can be learned (Sullivan & Decker, 2009). An informal leader is someone who does not have a specific title of management. Being an informal leader relies on a person's knowledge and interpersonal skills.

Leaders do not always have positions of power. A person can be a leader and not be a manager, or in another position of power. The NICU I used to work in had several informal leaders. These ladies were nurses, and not in management. These nurses went above and beyond to help me as a new nurse. They guided me through procedures, helped me find things, and did it with a smile. Informal leaders are happy help, and do it without being compensated. These type of leaders are confident, patient, caring, genuine, and compassionate. I believe these characteristics are what makes them leaders.

If I were in charge of choosing a manger I would choose someone who is already an informal leader. This person would already exhibit interpersonal skills critical for management. I believe it is easier to learn the technicalities of a position than to learn interpersonal skills. In my experience, it seems that people either have these skills or they don't.

Reference

Sullivan, E.J., & Decker (2009). P.J. Effective Leadership and Management in Nursing. (2009). (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.