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Weekly Q&A: Identifying strong leaders

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, April 17, 2007

This week, a reader asks how to identify strong leaders when creating a staff council. Read the response below from our advisor Elise Gropper, PhD, APRN, BC, CPHQ, president Gropper & Associates, Inc.

Q: How do you identify strong leaders when creating a staff council?

A: To have a successful shared governance staff council, it's important to identify the strong leaders, those who will drive the council by being responsible, accountable, empowered, and who communicate clearly with other staff to get them on board. Tim Porter-O'Grady, EdD, ScD, APRN, FAAN, senior partner, Tim Porter-O'Grady Associates, Inc., has completed extensive research on the development and workings of councils. Porter-O'Grady provided these two key points in a recent interview with Nursing Spectrum:

• Initiate the staff council with nurses who are always first to the table with new ideas--these should be your champions. Other nursing staff will get on board with the council after the benefits for nurses, nursing practice, and patients have been determined.
• Be patient with the staff council. Excitement might not be there from the start because its value is not immediately apparent.

Editor's note: Do you have a question for one of our advisors? If you'd like us to consider your query for publication, please send it to Cameran Erny.

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