The Center for Nursing Leadership values diversity and endeavors to invite, honor and translate the richness of diversity into new knowledge and interdependent action. From that value, we honor the following expressions of leadership from community members:
Linda Burnes-Bolton, Chief Nursing Officer, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,
Los Angeles, CA: "Leaders and leading are different. Leading is
initiating change by developing the plan, implementing and evaluating the plan.
Leaders work with others at all levels to explore the nature of the required
change. A leader learns from others, mentors, and coaches. Leading is the verb,
leader the noun. Both are necessary for change.
Jane Swanson, Leadership Consultant and Navy Captain (Retired):
"Leadership is self discovery, and facilitation for others. It is
the energy potential that evolves from the synergy of being in the right place
and in the right frame of mind at the right time. This definition requires one
to intuitively discover self, develop keen intuition, seek a positive attitude, utilize
active listening skills and practice honest communications." (Swanson, J.
W. (2000). Zen leadership: balancing energy for mind, body and spirit harmony.
Nursing Administration Quarterly. 24(2)
Catherine Robinson-Walker, Author and President, the Leadership Studio for Women
in Health Care: "The Gender and Leadership in Health Care study
suggests that the leader as "guide of" and "participants
with" people is the evolving form of leadership, as we move from the narrow
notions of "command and control." In many instances, this form of
shared leadership, or co-creation, is better suited to the future of many social
institutions, including health care." (Robinson-Walker, C. (1999). Women
and leadership in health care: the journey to authenticity and power. San
Francisco, Jossey-Bass Publishers, p. 34.)
JoEllen Koerner, President, Global Nursing Academy and 
Gene ThinElk, Lakota Healer and faculty guide for the Center, in speaking about
compassionate leadership: Compassionate leadership is the ability to be
there for others, without withdrawing and without judgment. Unconditional
compassion for ourselves leads naturally to unconditional compassion for others.
There are whole parts of ourselves that are so unwanted that whenever they begin
to emerge in ourselves or others, we run away. We can learn to use all the
unwanted things in our lives to awaken compassion for ourselves and others. We
can then relate compassionately to people and things we would rather push away.
A compassionate leader is centered, accepting, honest and clear, helping others
find their path toward wholeness while seeking wholeness oneself. (Chodron, P.
(1994). Start where you are: a guide to compassionate living. Boston, MA:
Shambala Publications; Bradden, G. (1997). Walking between the worlds: the
science of compassion. Bellvue, WA: Radio Bookstore Press; Fox, M. (1990). A
spirituality named compassion. San Francisco, CA: Harper.)