Person-centred leadership: A relational approach to leadership derived through action research

Aims and objectives: How does person-centred leadership manifest in clinical nursing.

Background: Person-centred practice fosters healthful relationships and is gaining increasing attention in nursing and health care, but nothing is known about the influence of a person-centred approach to leadership practice. Most leadership models used in nursing were originally developed outside of nursing.

Design: A 3-year participatory action research study where participant leaders planned, researched and learned from their practice development.

Methods: After an orientation phase, four action spirals focused on: critical and creative reflective inquiries into leadership practice change; leading the implementation and evaluation of a new nursing system; facilitating storytelling sessions with staff; and annually reflecting on personal leadership change. Multiple data gathering methods offered insight into leadership development from several perspectives.

Results: Critical and creative thematic data analysis revealed a set of attributes, relational processes and contextual factors that influenced the being and becoming of a person-centred leader. Comparing the findings with nursing leadership literature supports a conceptual framework for person-centred leadership.

Conclusions: Person-centred leadership is a complex, dynamic, relational and contextualised practice that aims to enable associates and leaders achieve self-actualisation, empowerment and well-being.

Relevance to clinical practice: This study and its conceptual framework is of relevance to practitioners, educationalists and researchers interested in developing a relational approach to nurse leadership and person-centred cultures.