Democratic leadership style
Currently, as a leader, I use democratic leadership style. Although I have a range of styles I could employ in leading my team members, I chose this specific leadership style because every team member is involved in decision making, while I offer guidance.
When democratic leadership was successful
In the prison environment, cases of sexual assaults are common, and research has shown that to some extent, the victim’s behaviour prompts the offender to assault them (Cook & Lane, 2017). Therefore, as a nurse in the correctional unit, I worked with inmates to prevent incidences of sexual assaults. We held meetings twice weekly, and the inmates would identify behaviours that predisposed them to assaults. These behaviours were identified as; increasing the offender’s sense of impunity and gaining a reputation for vulnerability. The inmates also identified ways to prevent assaults, while I only guided them. Health education was given, and after three months, only one case of sexual assault was reported compared to more than twenty cases before this intervention.
When democratic leadership was inadequate
A patient who had diabetes came to the diabetic ward within the maximum prison after taking an overdose of insulin. I was with two nursing students, and immediately the patient arrived, he collapsed. I called for help and requested that one of the students should administer to the patient dextrose 50% because I was attending to a patient who had a diabetic shock. Unfortunately, none of the students responded. Instead, they stood and looked at the patient. This shows the inadequacies of democratic leadership in times of emergencies.
Reference
Cook, C. L., & Lane, J. (2017). Blaming the victim: Perceptions about incarcerated sexual assault victim culpability among a sample of jail correctional officers. Victims & Offenders, 12(3), 347-380.