Aesthetic Leadership: Its Place in the Clinical Nursing World

Abstract

Clinical leadership has been identified as crucial to positive patient/client outcomes, across all clinical settings. In the new millennium, transformational leadership has been the dominant leadership style and in more recent times, congruent leadership theory has emerged to explain clinical leadership in nursing. This article discusses these two leadership models and identifies some of the shortcomings of them as models for clinical leadership in nursing. As a way of overcoming some of these limitations, aesthetic leadership is proposed as a style of leadership that is not antithetical to either model and reflects nursing's recognition of the validity of art and aesthetics to nursing generally. Aesthetic leadership is also proposed as a way to identify an expert clinical leader from a less experienced clinical leader, taking a similar approach to the way Benner (1984) has theorised in her staging of novice to expert clinical nurse.

Transformational leadership in nursing: a concept analysis

“…An example of a borderline or related case is aesthetic leadership (Mannix et al 2015). Like TFL, this is a 'followeroriented' leadership model that is characterized by visionary, action-oriented leadership characteristics and behaviours.…”

“…However, whereas TFL emerges from the attributes and behaviours of the leader, aesthetic leadership emerges exclusively from the perceptions of the follower. Another related leadership model is that of congruent leadership (Mannix et al 2015), which is associated with the Situational Leadership theory. Congruent leadership is like TFL in that both involve modifying leadership behaviour to accommodate and inspire the group at hand; however, congruent leadership does not drive change in followers, nor does it encourage innovation and creativity, both of which are key characteristics of TFL.…”

‘Watching an artist at work’: aesthetic leadership in clinical nursing workplaces

“…In the current health care climate, it may be timely to consider a style of leadership style with a follower‐centric focus to complement and overcome shortcomings in these leader‐focused styles (Mannix et al . ). Aesthetic leadership is one style with a follower focus (Dinh et al .…”

Grace under fire: aesthetic leadership in clinical nursing

“…As a style of leadership, aesthetic leadership does share some characteristics with other values‐oriented styles such as servant leadership and ethical leadership (Mumford & Fried ), and is not antithetical to transformational leadership or congruent leadership (Mannix et al . ). However, aesthetic leadership overcomes the cultural and moral limitations of transformational leadership (Hutchinson & Jackson ) through incorporating aesthetic processes shaped from cultural and embodied experiences (Mannix et al .…”

“…However, aesthetic leadership overcomes the cultural and moral limitations of transformational leadership (Hutchinson & Jackson ) through incorporating aesthetic processes shaped from cultural and embodied experiences (Mannix et al . ).…”