Personal Leadership Philosophies Assignment Brief
Course: NURS 6053 – Interprofessional Organizational and System Leadership (or IO003: Leadership)
Assignment Type: Written Reflection Paper
Week: 6
Word Count: 500–750 words (2–3 pages)
Due Date: Day 7 of Week 6
Assignment Overview
This assignment invites you to articulate your personal leadership philosophy by examining your core values, mission and vision, CliftonStrengths assessment results, and areas for professional growth. The paper requires you to synthesize scholarly leadership literature with self-assessment data to construct a coherent framework that will guide your development as a nurse leader.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this assignment, you will be able to:
- Identify and articulate personal core values that underpin your leadership approach
- Develop a mission and vision statement aligned with professional nursing leadership goals
- Analyze CliftonStrengths assessment results to understand your leadership profile
- Recognize specific behaviors requiring development and construct an actionable improvement plan
- Integrate scholarly evidence to support your leadership philosophy framework
Preparation Requirements
Before drafting your paper, complete the following:
- Access and review your CliftonStrengths Assessment results (completed in Module 2 Discussion)
- Identify two to three scholarly resources that evaluate leadership behaviors in creating healthy work environments
- Reflect on the leadership behaviors presented in your selected resources
- Consider how your CliftonStrengths results relate to your identified leadership traits
- Review colleague feedback from Module 2 Discussion 2 regarding your strengths assessment
Assignment Components
Your personal leadership philosophy paper must include the following sections:
1. Core Values Description (approximately 100–150 words)
Articulate the fundamental principles that guide your personal and professional conduct. These values should reflect what you consider non-negotiable in your leadership practice. Examples may include integrity, accountability, compassion, lifelong learning, or collaboration. Explain why these values matter to you and how they manifest in your daily interactions.
2. Personal Mission and Vision Statement (approximately 100–150 words)
Draft a mission statement that captures your purpose as a nurse leader and a vision statement that describes the future you aim to create. Your mission should address present commitments, while your vision should project your long-term aspirations for your leadership impact on teams, organizations, and patient outcomes.
3. CliftonStrengths Analysis (approximately 150–200 words)
Summarize your top five CliftonStrengths themes and analyze how these results illuminate your leadership tendencies. Discuss how specific strengths complement one another and identify potential blind spots or areas where over-reliance on certain strengths might limit effectiveness. Incorporate insights from colleague feedback received during Module 2 discussions.
4. Two Key Behaviors to Strengthen (approximately 75–100 words)
Identify two specific leadership behaviors you wish to develop further. These should be concrete, observable actions rather than abstract qualities. For example, “proactive decision-making” or “effective delegation” rather than simply “confidence” or “communication.” Explain why these behaviors matter for your leadership growth.
5. Development Plan (approximately 150–200 words)
Outline specific, measurable strategies for improving your two target behaviors. Include timelines, resources, and accountability mechanisms. Explain how this plan connects to your personal vision statement and describe concrete examples of implementation in your current or future practice setting.
Formatting Requirements
- APA 7th Edition format throughout
- Double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font
- 1-inch margins on all sides
- Running head and page numbers
- Title page with course number, assignment title, your name, instructor name, and due date
- Reference page with minimum two scholarly sources published between 2018–2026
- In-text citations for all paraphrased and quoted material
Grading Rubric
| Criteria | Excellent (90–100%) | Good (80–89%) | Fair (70–79%) | Poor (0–69%) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Values Clear articulation of personal values with explanation of significance to leadership practice |
Values are clearly defined, deeply examined, and explicitly connected to leadership philosophy; demonstrates sophisticated self-awareness | Values are well-defined and connected to leadership; shows good self-awareness | Values are identified but lack depth or clear connection to leadership practice | Values are vague, missing, or not connected to leadership | 20 |
| Mission and Vision Coherent mission and vision statements aligned with professional nursing leadership |
Mission and vision are compelling, specific, and fully aligned with nursing leadership; demonstrates forward-thinking perspective | Mission and vision are clear and appropriate for nursing leadership context | Mission or vision is present but lacks specificity or alignment with nursing leadership | Mission and/or vision are missing, unclear, or misaligned with professional context | 20 |
| CliftonStrengths Analysis Integration of assessment results with leadership trait reflection |
Thorough analysis of all five top strengths with insightful connections to leadership; effectively incorporates colleague feedback | Solid analysis of strengths with clear connections to leadership traits | Basic description of strengths with limited analysis or connection to leadership | Minimal or missing analysis; no connection to leadership traits |