I wasn’t always a nurse. Among other things, I spent eight years as a manager in a fast-food restaurant before I went back to school to move into a health care profession. But the lessons I learned throughout my career — in hospitality and as an intensive care unit nurse, nurse manager and nurse educator — all still apply to my work as dean of the Linfield-Good Samaritan School of Nursing.
Lead with empathy, respect and a deep commitment to those you serve. As I cut my teeth in restaurant management, I learned many of the do’s and don’ts of effective leadership. Early in my career, I took on every challenge myself — handling inventory, resolving complaints, covering shifts — thinking it would help my team. Instead, they felt sidelined and morale dropped. That experience taught me real leadership isn’t about doing it all; it’s about respecting and empowering others.
This shaped my belief in servant leadership, a philosophy that emphasizes serving others as the primary goal of leadership. Robert Greenleaf, who first coined the term said it best:
“It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead.” Embracing servant leadership transformed my approach, allowing my team in the restaurant to grow stronger together.
When I started in nursing, my first position was in a small hospital in LaGrange, Georgia. I quickly realized that nursing, like leadership, is about service. It’s about being present for patients, families and colleagues — supporting them through their most vulnerable moments.
My experiences — both in nursing and in life — have taught me that the most effective leaders are those who lead with heart and put others first. This is the type of leader I strive to be every day.
Leadership is a skill and a continuous learning process. I have participated in the National League for Nursing’s Leadership Institute, called LEAD, as well as a leadership program sponsored by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. These programs reinforced the importance of skills such as listening, adaptability and empathy. In health care, these skills are critical to building teams, advancing initiatives and, ultimately, providing the highest quality of care.
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way is the importance of listening. Those who know me understand that I love to talk, but the leadership programs have taught me that listening is often more powerful than speaking. People want to know they are heard, that they are cared about and that their work matters. This is the same whether you are managing a fast-food restaurant or being the charge nurse in a busy ICU. Developing this ability to listen intently has been a crucial part of my growth as a leader and one I continue to work on daily.
Leadership is not a title. I currently co-teach a leadership course for our traditional BSN program and have previously taught the leadership course for our master’s program. My goal in these leadership classes has been to ensure that students understand they don’t need to be managers to be leaders. Leadership can and should come from any nurse, at any level, and I structure my courses to be more conversational to encourage students to see themselves as leaders.
I was recently delighted to receive an email from a student in that class, Natisha Ortiz Rodriguez ’24, who said, “Your insights and stories during the class have been incredibly inspiring. They have encouraged me to stay grounded, while also embracing growth. As a first-generation Mexican navigating a profession with a limited Mexican presence, I often face unique challenges. Your words have given me the motivation to strive not just for myself, but also for my patients and future generations.” I am grateful that Natisha is pursuing nursing and she already is envisioning herself as a leader for the patients in her care.
The best leaders inspire and celebrate others’ leadership growth. Simon Sinek wisely said, “Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” This philosophy guides my work as dean and in the classroom. I want our students to graduate with not only the technical and critical thinking skills needed in nursing but also with the confidence to step up as leaders in their field. I am overjoyed when I connect with alumni who have found their voices and are leaders in their organizations.
As dean, I see my role as a leader who supports not only our students but also our dedicated faculty and staff members. By fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment, I strive to empower every member of our community to excel and contribute to the continued success of our school. It’s why I have encouraged our employees to enroll in professional development opportunities, pursue advanced degrees and participate in programs like LEAD.
Great leaders don’t fear when others grow around them. They encourage, support and inspire others in their organization to rise together.
Looking ahead, I am excited to continue serving our Linfield community, supporting the next generation of nurses and helping them become compassionate, capable leaders in their own right. Our students are amazing, and it is a privilege to help guide them on their paths to becoming leaders in health care.
About the author
Paul Smith is dean of the Linfield-Good Samaritan School of Nursing.
He has served Linfield in a variety of professorial and administrative roles since 2007. His research focuses on diversity, cultural competence and heath disparities seen in the LGBTQ+ community.
In addition to several school- and university-wide leadership roles, Smith has also distinguished himself as a leader in nursing.
He participates as an active member of the National League of Nursing (NLN), American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, SIGMA and Western Institute of Nursing Research. He was elected as a commissioner for a three-year term on the NLN Commission for Nurse Educator Certification in 2017 and was selected to participate in the LEAD program for emerging nurse educator leaders in 2013.
Smith has long been a popular professor and educator in all nursing programs at Linfield and is currently co-teaching the Nursing Leadership course with Associate Dean Heidi Johnston.
