Rose O. Sherman, an RN and authority in leadership development, said the new generation of nurses is demanding transparency in leadership to build a culture of trust. Sherman, in her blog Emerging RN Leader, said employees who are well informed are more likely to have confidence in their employers.
“Your staff does not expect you to have all the answers but does want the truth,” Sherman said in “Transparency in Leadership.” “This may mean sometimes having to say that there are certain things that you cannot discuss at this time but will as soon as it is OK to share them. Staff want you to be humble and even vulnerable.”
To that end, Sherman referenced a blog post by Forbes contributor and leadership development expert Glenn Llopis that identified five reasons for transparency:
Problems can be solved more efficiently
When staff members have all of the information on a particular topic, they may come up with good suggestions to solve problems.
Teams coalesce faster
A culture of trust and transparency encourages team development faster than a culture of secrecy.
Relationships develop more authentically
Through full transparency, bonds mature quicker because the openness helps avoid misunderstandings that can lead to unnecessary tension.
Staff trusts their leaders
Transparency allows staff members to trust and respect their leaders and share their trust and respect with colleagues.
Higher levels of performance
When staff members feel as though they know what is happening in their organization, they feel better and more energized about their work.
Sherman said a lack of transparency that still exists in some healthcare workplaces could have long-term detrimental effects.
“The irony is that it is the leader who loses in the long run because performance will never reach the levels that could happen in a culture of transparency,” she said.
Successful Transparency in Nursing Leadership
Kaplan, in the Harvard Business Review, said leaders must prioritize multidisciplinary meetings that encourage the breakdown of silos and a sharing of information across the board.
“In the United States, we have more information than ever about how to provide appropriate, high-quality care and keep patients safe,” he said. “Transparency with internal and external stakeholders is essential for quality, safety, accountability and informed decision-making.”
At the same time, Brandon “Kit” Bredimus, director of emergency services at Midland Memorial Hospital in Texas, said transparency is the key to good leadership.
“A good leader recognizes they have weaknesses and that there are things they have to address and learn,” he said. “And what’s more, they are transparent about it. Leaders do not hoard all the knowledge; they are transparent and involve their team in decision-making because ultimately, it’s going to affect them.”
RNs who aspire to leadership positions and improving transparency must seek opportunities for educational advancement, including through an online DNP program. At Duquesne University, DNP students learn about transparency in nursing leadership from professionals who are experts in the field.