Leadership principles and practices have changed significantly over the past few decades.
For example, the command-and-control style of leadership, commonly used during the industrial revolution, is no longer an effective form of leadership. Similarly, the “carrot and stick” leadership philosophy has been replaced by collaboration and team concepts.
In the healthcare industry, doctors are finding that becoming more coach-like is the best way to lead peak performing teams. Furthermore, the concept of the “super leader”, a leader who knows all and does all, has proven to be a poor leadership style. Doctors are in uncharted waters as they are discovering that to be effective they must walk a fine line between being the boss while simultaneously being a member of the practice team.
Accepting the fact that in today’s uncertain and volatile environment we must rely on the knowledge and experience of others makes many doctors uncomfortable. Yet, without this diversity of opinion and experience we are increasingly likely to make ill advised decisions.
And finally, the concept of collective leadership; having a team of leaders, is replacing the solo leader philosophy of previous decades.
Critical to these modern leadership transformations is the emergence of leaders as people developers as opposed to problem solvers. Peak performance and people development are inexorably interwoven. The new directive to practice leaders is to develop people while creating a cohesive, highly productive team.
The video below offers valuable information on how we as practice leaders can meet these demands through people development, collaboration, and team building.
At Line of Sight Coaching, we have created a quick ten-question self-assessment Leadership Quiz. Take this opportunity to gauge your leadership effectiveness and get an answer to the question…”Have you ever wondered about your ability to lead?” Take our Free Leadership Quiz.
Dr. Joel Small and Dr. Edwin McDonald, the founders of Line of Sight Coaching, are dental practitioners, authors, speakers and Business Leadership Coaches who work with healthcare professionals to help them build more successful practices so they can live the balanced life they seek.
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