3 don'ts for physician leaders

By Matt Kuhrt

As intelligent and talented as physicians are, their professional skill set does not automatically lend itself to strong leadership. By overcoming common traits that inhibit solid leadership, physicians can improve their odds of success as they take on increased responsibility for their teams, according to an article in Forbes.

Robert Pearl, M.D., CEO of The Permanente Medical Group and the MidAtlantic Permanente Medical Group, provides the following advice for physicians seeking to improve their leadership capabilities:

Don't confuse leadership with being above others. Physician leaders end up with a lot of new responsibilities, says Pearl, but just because you can assign yourself an easier call schedule or excuse yourself from heading into work late at night at another doctor's request doesn't mean you should. Strong leaders set a positive example for their followers.

The best way to cultivate respect from those lower in the hierarchy than you is to treat them with respect as well. It's just as important to acknowledge and show that you care about those who work for you as those for whom you work. "Influence and respect--not authority by title or position--determine success," Pearl writes.

Don't try to do it all. Instead, learn to prioritize. By nature, physicians work hard and are detail-oriented. Leaders have to be able to step back and look at the big picture in order to marshal their resources efficiently. That means being strategic when choosing what tasks to tackle, and delegating both work and authority wherever appropriate, according to the article.

Don't waffle. Leaders must make firm decisions, often based on incomplete information or without good visibility into the future. Pearl stresses the importance of walking the line between making a rash decision and being risk-averse. A lack of courage when performance issues arise or ambiguity in decision-making are as likely to lead to poor performance as making the wrong decision will.

And when leading change especially, physician leaders have to provide steady reassurance to overcome team members' fears amid uncertainty, FiercePracticeManagement reported previously.

To learn more:
- read the Forbes article