We define the empowered healthcare manager as one who has the ability, permission, desire, humility and courage to lead the willing and transform the unwilling. Let’s discuss ability.
Leaders have the ability to modify the behaviors of their staff most effectively when they are capable of:
1) providing positive reinforcement;
2) setting the example they want their team to model;
3) leading from the front;
4) fostering good will in every corner.
Master those four, and you’re likely capable of acquiring the kind of empowerment that leads and transforms (assuming you also have desire, humility and courage).
Every manager knows leadership is not all unicorns and rainbows. Just like parenting, the ability to demonstrate tough love is no less important than the four attributes just mentioned. Providing timely, effective and consistent discipline, however necessary, can be difficult for those who shun conflict. If that defines you, know this:
The empowered healthcare manager understands discipline is about behaviors, not people.
They know discipline is nothing more than a course correction on the road to long-term employment. They know that every employee who is worth keeping is worth correcting.
Managers who are adverse to conflicts with their staff have two choices: 1) they can shun conflict and remain a mere manager or 2) they can empower themselves to push through it.
The mere manager manages an undisciplined staff that continuously generates new conflicts to shun; the empowered manager manages a team that generates few conflicts to manage.
That’s the difference ability makes.