Leadership: a new perspective

Aim  This overview article aimed at outlining the image of an effective future‐orientated nurse leader in the health care context through a pragmatic approach. The future nurse leaders on different levels in health care institutions is challenged in the current health care environment of culturally diverse countries, such as South Africa. This article should make all nursing leaders more aware of their important role in taking the lead in challenges faced in the current health service environment. Background  Leaders have the essentials of authority, power and influence to lead followers to their goals. The use of these essentials has changes from the past, to the present and into the future health care environment. Different changes and challenges are facing nurse leaders and they need to implement an effective leadership style in a complex health care environment. Evaluation  This overview article focuses on key elements of an effective future leader using a conceptual framework as departure, incorporating relevant literature. It analyses and evaluates the efficiency of past and present roles of authority, power and influence in leadership and summarizes a new perspective of a future nurse leader. Solutions and future actions are indicated for the future role of the nurse leader. Key issues  The past, present and future leadership setting, role of authority, power and influence in leadership, components of the arch of leadership and solutions to effective leadership in a future dimension is all domains that is presented with the intention of motivating future nurse leaders. Conclusion  It was identified that a different kind of leader should emerge to lead in a new way, different from those leadership styles that we have known in the past. The 21st century is a new timeframe and different timeframes demand different leadership approaches.