Leadership styles and transformational leadership skills among nurse leaders in Qatar, a cross-sectional study

Aim: There is a continuing need to implement strategies that create opportunities to develop leadership in Qatar, and to build institutions that can produce effective health managers and leaders. The scarcity of information and studies relating to leadership in this major healthcare corporation must be addressed. This article aims to explore nursing leadership styles and transformational leadership skills among nursing leaders, in Qatar. The study was conducted from October 2020 to January 2021. Design: A cross-sectional Study. Methods: A validated survey was administered to explore the prevalence of leadership styles and transformational leadership skills. Subsequent statistical data analysis achieved the research objectives. The Multi-Factor Leadership Questionnaire (Western Journal of Nursing Research, 1996) was used as an online de-identified validated questionnaire. Results: Eighty-nine nurses completed the survey. The nurse leaders in this study exhibited leadership traits or qualities that confirm transformational leadership. Some nurse leaders also exhibited transactional and autocratic leadership styles. Directors of nursing exhibit higher levels of transformational leadership style than head nurses, while the latter is more likely to manifest an autocratic leadership style. This study indicates that a development roadmap is needed to transform more nursing leaders into transformational leaders, particularly head nurses, and to universally improve transformational leadership skills among all nursing staff members.