Leadership in Health Care: The Truth and the Bull

Everyone seems to have their own ideas and opinions about leadership in health care. Some people believe they are leaders, when in fact, they aren’t leaders at all. Others work hard to serve others and don’t care about being a leader or assuming the title. The truth about leadership is this – most people are somewhere between being a bad leader and a good leader. Critically looking at the differences between them is important if you want to grow as a leader – or get away from bad leaders!

Real Leadership

So, what is real leadership? It is less about a title and more about transmitting values, standards, principles and guidelines that your employees will use to conduct their daily jobs. There is a concept known as the “Natural Law of Leadership”. It involves treating employees as valuable and important people. Remember, your people are your greatest strengths as well as weaknesses. The Natural Law of Leadership also means that you will make your employees feel special every day. This takes positive energy, passion and focus. In turn, your employees will treat their work, customers, peers and management the way you treat them. In other words, what goes around… comes around. This is very much like the Law of Attraction.

I have often said to my audiences while speaking about leadership, “I would rather have no leader than a poor one”, and “I would much rather have a leader than a manager any day”. So, what’s the difference between managers and leaders?

Managers vs. Leaders

Managers maintain things while leaders develop things. Managers rely on systems and leaders rely on people. Managers administer projects and tasks while leaders motivate people to get things done. Managers count on controls in the workplace and leaders count on trust. Management means doing things right and leadership means doing the right things. So, you see, there are some major differences between managers and leaders. Which would you rather be?

Qualities of Great Leaders

• Create settings with less employee turnover
• Create environments in which employees love to come to work
• Inspire employees to be better
• Encourage positive feelings about work
• Make a positive difference
• Make employees feel important and empowered
• Create happiness in the workplace
• Value mutual respect and loyalty
• Work as hard as their employees
• Takes full responsibility for success and failure
• Encourages others to push themselves to be better
• Chooses tasks that others run away from

Final Words

The true test of a great leader is this – employees would become very upset if he or she left to work somewhere else. It is very common that employees will follow a leader no matter where he or she goes. I’ve seen it over and over again in my career. Good people follow good people.

How do you feel as a leader? Are you comfortable in that role? How would you rate yourself in terms of the qualities listed above? Would your employees follow you or throw a party after you leave? So, forget the bull and be a real leader!

More About Leadership

• Workplace Bullying in Health Care
• Improving Communication in the Workplace
• Understanding and Using the Law of Attraction
• Reducing Hospital Readmissions
• Building a Better Team
• Workplace Success and the Power of Trust and Genuine Relationships