To analyse the concept of implementation leadership (IL) in health care and nursing literature.Implementation leadership has emerged as a type of leadership that is lacking but required for the successful implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs). A concept analysis of IL can help identify, clarify and apply this concept to inform strategies for nursing leadership development.A concept analysis using Rodger's evolutionary method identified attributes of IL, and the context in which it is expressed including antecedents, consequences, references and surrogate terms. Forty-two articles were analysed following a Boolean search of MEDLINE and CINAHL databases.Implementation leadership is a specific and strategic approach to leadership characterized by a set of influencing behaviours leading to positive outcomes for the implementation of EBPs.The concept analysis describes an evolving term that requires further clarification. This analysis contributes to an expanding knowledge base for capacity-building strategies for EBP implementation in nursing and health care.Effective IL, specifically in nurse managers, may be key in facilitating the implementation process for future successes. Nursing managers can build on a foundation of general leadership practices and consider the role of other members of the nurse leadership team in IL.