After completing my interview for the nurse leadership assignment, I feel that I learned a lot about the role of being a leader and also reinforced what I already suspected would be true about leading in a nursing role. My interview with this individual focused on how they handle conflicts in the workplace. Without getting too specific, their leadership role is primarily working to encourage staff members to be the best versions of themselves during the work day. When I asked the question: “how do you manage conflicts in your work environment?” they responded with something that inspired me. Their answer to this question was: “I feel it is important that everyone feels heard and respected and no one gets lost in the cracks.” I asked them to elaborate on this because I felt that this answer didn’t necessarily resolve a conflict. They continued with: “many conflicts originate from people feeling as though they are not being heard, by practicing active listening I can make people feel much more at ease before even beginning to come up with a solution.”  This kind of thinking showed me how often we overlook little things that make a big difference in a leadership role. 

This kind of viewpoint has influenced how I will practice in my future as an RN. I want to make sure that my active listening skills are exceptional because this is important in a formal or informal leadership position.  The question regarding conflict was my favorite question to ask this leader because it provided me with a thought provoking response. While that question was my favorite to talk about, I learned so much more than just that one concept. I was surprised to learn that this individual struggled originally to be an effective leader in their position. They said that they weren’t always so outspoken and that made it difficult for them to assume a leadership role. This was a challenge that they had to overcome to become the nurse leader that they are today.  It was reassuring to hear that someone that is such an inspirational leader today, didn’t always feel so confident in their capabilities. It showed me that with the right instruction and growth, anyone can become an exceptional leader. I will take this into my nursing career and try not to say no to formal leadership positions out of fear. This interview gave me a great insight into the world of possibilities that is the nursing profession.