Management is taught, leadership is learned.

Management can be taught. Leadership must be experienced to be learned. The great leaders have evolved their abilities through on-the-job experiences that prepare them to lead by a variety of successes and failures. The quicker you get started on this journey to leadership, the more time you will have to build a legacy of positive outcomes. The patient care unit manager is a very valuable person. However, we need many more leaders who can think out of traditional boxes, lead people enthusiastically into the new world of health care, and transform our profession and the health care system to more effectively meet the health needs of our society. The best we can do is to empower people to start this journey of leadership early and seriously in their careers.