A critical role of leaders is to use assertiveness and power to support their followers and provide them with the authority to make positive changes. A successful leader is one who does not seek to hold power over others, but rather to empower them. Through this empowerment, positive change can occur. This lesson will provide you with a personal view of your own assertiveness style and use of power. These traits will then be used to consider your ability to initiate change. At the completion of this lesson, you will have gained insight into your own abilities in order to develop a philosophy of leadership and how it applies to the role of the advanced practice nurse. The assignment at the end of this lesson will allow you to put those insights into words by developing your own personal philosophy of nursing leadership.

Reading
Kouzes & Posner (2017) Chapters 7 & 8
Folkman, J. (2013), 6 secrets of assertive leaders, Forbes.

Sherman, R. (2018) Leadership influence, and power
Actions
, Nurse Leader, 16(1), 6-7.
Sherman, R. & Cohn, T. (2019) Using leadership power wisely: Learn how to use power in the service of others. American Nurse Today, 14(9),1.
• Change
Kouzes & Posner (2017) Chapter 13
Schein, E. (2002) Models and tools for stability and change in human systems. Reflections, 4(2) 34-46.
Kotter, J.P. (1996) Transforming organizations: Why firms fail

Videos