Follow the leader: a learning exercise

This manuscript presents an alternate method for students' acquisition of leadership concepts. It also invites the students to become actively invoLved in their own learning. "Follow the Leader: A Learning Exercise" enables students to observe leadership in action, and to analyze and assimilate leadership/management theories. After observing leaders, the students discuss how they would use what they learned to become better nursing leaders. The exercise covers these key nursing management concepts: principles of delegation of authority and responsibility, communication patterns, group process, decision making, and evaluation. In order to do the exercise, students need background knowledge of basic management procedures of planning, organizing, directing and controlling.