Exploring the benefits and limitations of transactional leadership in healthcare
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Exploring the benefits and limitations of transactional leadership in healthcare

Ali Richards Lecturer, Institute of Health, University of Cumbria, Lancashire, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To remind yourself of the various definitions and styles of leadership

  • To enable you to recognise the main features and characteristics of transactional leaders

  • To enhance your understanding of the benefits and limitations of transactional leadership in nursing and healthcare

Leadership theory is a crucial aspect of nursing and the focus of a large body of literature. However, it remains a challenging concept to define and has been subject to various interpretations. Much of the literature on leadership is contradictory, with some studies claiming particular leadership styles are more effective than others. This article discusses the benefits and limitations of one approach to leadership – transactional leadership – and considers its use in nursing practice. The author suggests that transactional leadership remains useful as an approach to meeting short-term goals and completing tasks, but that it should be combined with other leadership styles to maximise its effectiveness in healthcare settings.

Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2020.e11593

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

ali.richards@cumbria.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Richards A (2020) Exploring the benefits and limitations of transactional leadership in healthcare. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2020.e11593

Published online: 22 October 2020

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