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Contingency Theory
The Student’s Name
Course Number and Name
Instructor’s Name
Date Submitted
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Contingency Theory
Good and effective leadership is vital in all healthcare institutions to ensure the smooth
running of operations. According to Mondini et al. (2020), managers and leaders must carry out
activities such as goal planning, decision making, resolving conflicts, leading, and motivating
employees. Therefore, managers need to base their leadership skills on appropriate theories that
support their decisions. The contingency theory of leadership was proposed by Fred Edward
Fielder, an Australian psychologist. According to Willcox et al. (2018), the theory states that
there is no one specific way to lead an organization.
The contingency theory is a class of behavioral theories that maintains one leadership
style may be effective in some situations and ineffective in other cases. The theory is established
on the assumption that a leader’s ability to lead is dependent on situational factors. According to
Fielder, the situational characteristics that determined leadership effectiveness are task structure,
leader-position power, and leader-follower relations. Good working relationships with junior
workers, strong leadership power, and highly structured tasks enhance leadership effectiveness.
The theory further suggests that the leader’s personality and the circumstances under which the
leader is operating are key determinants of effective leadership.
Therefore, a leader’s success depends on the situations at the moment. The
leader’s personality determines how appropriately he can act when making decisions. For
instance, self-motivated leaders aim to achieve above their goals and objectives. Self-motivated
leaders will use motivation to influence employees to exceed their expectations. Fielder indicates
that effective leadership is determined by how appropriate the leadership style a leader chooses
fits the current situation at hand (Willcoxet al., 2018). Leaders are encouraged to weigh the
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underlying circumstances and apply a suitable style that matches the situation. They should be
flexible and not rely on a single leadership style to address all problems.
As a nurse, I believe in delivering quality individualized patient care. I believe in
providing personal care and showing empathy to all my patients. In my practice as a nurse,
nursing goes beyond treating an illness. I educate my patients and make them aware of good
health and nutrition practices to improve their health. As a nurse, I have been able to work with
patients from different cultures. Therefore, I have learned to deal and communicate with patients
regardless of their culture. I was also able to complete my baccalaureate degree. Furthermore, I
have learned the art of being a nurse and can now work independently without the physician’s
supervision. Most importantly, I have collaborated with nurses from other fields, sharpening my
interdisciplinary teams’ skills and knowledge.
My nursing philosophy has continually grown throughout my nursing career. Treating
patients who got better and were discharged to go home gave me the motivation to give patients
the best care. However, losing my patients during treatment was devastating, but I learned how
to do things better from every situation. I envision myself to be a visionary leader. It is always
important to have set goals to achieve. As a visionary leader, I will inspire my team to achieve
the healthcare institution’s vision and mission. Consequently, I will also encourage teamwork to
develop a strategic plan to achieve our goals.
There are instances when I have used the contingency theory of leadership in my nursing
career. For example, the emergency department was overcrowded with patients who need urgent
medical attention at one time. Even though I was not in the obstetrician department, I acted
depending on the situation and helped a woman give birth to her child. The other nurses had their
hands full due to the many patients. The case, therefore, called me to act promptly to save the
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patient’s life. As a nurse leader in the future, I will use the contingency leadership theory always
to examine the situation and act accordingly to provide relevant solutions.
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References
Mondini, C. C. D. S. D., Cunha, I. C. K. O., Trettene, A. D. S., Fontes, C. M. B., Bachega, M. I.,
& Cintra, F. M. R. (2020). Authentic leadership among nursing professionals: knowledge
and profile. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 73(4).
Willcox, A., Sutherland Boal, A., de Padua, A., Balaski, B., Ens, B., Toye, C. R., ... & Harris, Y.
(2018). Leadership and influencing change in nursing. University of Regina Press.
