Seeing down the road: restructuring the work of leadership.

Understanding our own patterns of thought and interaction is one of the disciplines that can help nurse leaders move from a reactive and retrospective stance to becoming proactive. A familiar example, driving, illustrates this concept and applies these principles by suggesting practical ways that we can model the future for those we lead. We may not be able to totally control the obstacles along the way, but by staying fixed on the values of stewardship and service to our patients and staff, we can help draw the map of the future of health care.