Developing Leadership Skills & Emotional Resilience

Page 1: Introduction

• Event Context: 2025 National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners conference in Chicago (March 10-13) and Virtual (May 15-July 31)

• Session Theme: Developing Leadership Skills and Emotional Resilience in APRNs

• Speakers: Nadine Wodwaski, DNP, MSN-ed, ACNS, RN and Elaine D. Webber, DNP, PPCNP-BC, IBCLC

Page 2: Learning Objectives

• Objective Overview:

  • Identify personal leadership styles and their influence on interactions and decision-making

  • Recognize emotional cues to enhance Emotional Intelligence (EI), empathy, and resilience

  • Describe how EI and self-reflection affect leadership styles, team dynamics, and patient outcomes

• Critical Leadership Skill for APRNs: Essential competencies include communication, empathy, professionalism, and conflict resolution skills

Page 3: The Leadership Advantage

• Importance of EI in Leadership:

  • Essential for managing interdisciplinary teams

  • Critical in effectively resolving conflicts

  • Vital for advocating for pediatric patients and families

  • Helps minimize burnout in practice

Page 4: Emotional Intelligence (EI)

• Defining EI: The ability to perceive, express, assimilate, understand, and regulate emotions in oneself and others

• Influence of EI on Leadership Styles:

  • EI is essential for fostering teamwork, managing stress, and enhancing resilience

  • Leadership styles affected by EI include Visionary, Coaching, Affiliative, Pacesetting, and Commanding styles

Page 5: Developing Emotional Intelligence Skills

• Strategies for Enhancing EI:

  • Active listening and being fully present in conversations

  • Empathy towards patients and colleagues

  • Openness to diverse viewpoints

  • Encouraging constructive feedback to promote growth

• Emotional Charades Activity:

  • Questions aimed at enhancing understanding of emotions and nonverbal communication

Page 6: Conflict Resolution in Leadership

• Conflict Analysis Activity:

  • Examine a conflict scenario involving team dynamics in a pediatric unit

  • Identify key players, background, and clues to the conflict

  • Encourage proposing resolution strategies for maintaining patient safety and team harmony

Page 7: Interpersonal Dynamics

• Key Questions:

  • What was the primary source of conflict?

  • How did interpersonal dynamics contribute?

  • What communication strategies could have prevented the conflict?

  • How can EI aid in managing similar conflicts?

• Team Collaboration: Importance of fostering collaboration and a culture of trust in leadership

Page 8: Understanding Resilience

• Definition of Resilience:

  • Ability to turn adversity into opportunities and learn from challenges

  • Critical for nursing students to adapt and maintain professional practice

• Themes in Resilience Development:

  • Caring relationships, resource acknowledgment, recognizing uncertainty, reframing experiences

Page 9: Building a Culture of Trust

• Importance of Trust in Leadership:

  • Trust leads to readiness to care and resilience among team members

  • Encouragement of a trustworthy learning culture in nursing practice

• Strategies for Building Resilience:

  • Techniques like guided meditation and reflective journaling

  • Emphasizing self-care and mindfulness

Page 10: Conclusion and Call to Action

• Role of APRNs: Beyond caregiving, APRNs are expected to be leaders

• Embracing Leadership Skills: Importance of resilience and emotional intelligence in strengthening teams and professional roles

• Contact Information for Speakers:

  • Elaine Webber: webbered@udmercy.edu

  • Nadine Wodwaski: wodwasnk@udmercy.edu

References

• Cited works regarding EI, resilience, and leadership in nursing education to substantiate the topics discussed throughout the session.

Voice over lecture notes

Introduction to Emotional Intelligence (EI)

• Emotional intelligence (EI) is a crucial skill for leaders, especially in the healthcare system.

• Essential for fostering a collaborative team environment and improving patient outcomes.

• Lack of formal education in EI creates challenges for practitioners and leads to lower resilience, burnout, and frustration.

The Importance of EI in Leadership

• Many graduate programs do not adequately support the development of EI or conflict management.

• Lower EI correlates with increased burnout and emotional exhaustion among practitioners.

• There is often a mismatch between individuals’ expectations and their experiences in leadership roles.

Essential Leadership Skills for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)

Key Skills

• Communication: Key skill for effective leadership.

• Conflict Resolution: Important for managing team dynamics.

Assessing Your Leadership Style

• Various leadership styles include:

  • Authoritarian: Necessary in situations requiring strict adherence to protocols.

  • Democratic: Involves team discussions and consultation, can be time-consuming.

  • Delegating/Laissez Faire: Empower teams with autonomy, effective when members are motivated.

The Role of Emotions in Leadership

• Leaders' emotions influence team productivity and workplace dynamics.

• Importance of managing stress and demonstrating resilience in high-pressure environments.

• The ability to pivot in response to stressors can lead to improved job satisfaction and outcomes.

Defining Emotional Intelligence (EI)

• EI entails:

  • Perceiving and expressing emotions.

  • Assimilating emotions into thinking.

  • Understanding and applying emotions in reasoning.

  • Regulating one’s own and others' emotions.

Daniel Goleman’s Research on EI

• Goleman identifies six emotional leadership styles:

  1. Commanding: High control, effective in critical situations.

  2. Affiliative: Focus on emotional bonds and team spirit.

  3. Democratic: Encourages participation and collaboration.

  4. Visionary: Inspires and aligns teams to a common vision.

  5. Coaching: Develops individuals through personal connections.

  6. Pacesetting: Sets high standards for performance.

• Effective leaders combine different styles based on context.

Building a Culture of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

Strategies for Developing EI

• Listening: Essential for understanding colleagues and patients.

• Openness: Encourage diverse perspectives and viewpoints.

• Constructive Feedback: Focus on growth rather than criticism, using I statements to express feelings and needs.

Emotional Charades Activity

• A fun activity to help identify and express emotional cues.

• Emphasizes the importance of nonverbal communication in understanding emotions.

Conflict Resolution through EI

• Use conflict management scenarios to practice EI skills.

• Role-playing exercises help identify emotional responses and communication styles.

• Discuss the importance of emotional awareness in resolving team conflicts.

Building Resilience in Leadership

• Understanding Resilience: Capacity to turn adversity into opportunity.

• Importance of developing supportive relationships within teams.

• Recognizing and utilizing resources effectively to manage stress.

• Adjusting perspectives when faced with challenges.

Creating a Supportive Learning Culture

• Leaders should model supportive behaviors to foster a culture of trustworthiness.

• Students and practitioners should feel valued and heard.

• Engaging in active learning strategies enhances resilience and collaboration.

Conclusion

• Emotional intelligence is foundational for effective leadership in healthcare settings.

• Leaders must focus on personal development of EI and actively foster it in their teams to enhance collaboration, patient care, and overall job satisfaction.