Physicians and Leadership
Physicians fail because they lack leadership skills.
Yes, you heard it right. This is the problem. The problem is NOT: the administrators, the staff or nurses, the system or even the insurances companies. It’s our lack of leadership skills.
Imagine a shepherd who does not own the sheep but directs their daily lives say that “I’m not a leader because I don’t own the sheep”. Yet, they determine if the sheep will survive the day and stay in one place. Physicians are in charge of everything that is at the core of the existence of healthcare system. But because the people who are on our teams are not our direct reports, we confuse ourselves thinking that we’re not leaders. All the while everyone is looking to us for guidance, direction, instructions, opinions…. and even for moral code of what is okay and what is not.
Patients and our teams see us as leaders and hold us accountable for our leadership, but because we don’t see ourselves as leaders, we fail without even trying or knowing what to learn.
Physicians are: demoralized, burnt out, tired, frustrated, angry, unahppy, wanting to quit… because they can’t find themselves inside the current system. The system is heavily controlled and complex, and we are only one of many stakeholders, but a critical one. When we graduate from medical schools and residencies, we leave with a simple mindset about healthcare: that medicine is practiced between the doctor and the patient. The reality though is that the way that healthcare systems function, multiple diverse stakeholders have to work well together.
If we understood how to navigate the complex system with top notch leadership skills, we would be the ones determining the future of medicine. But because we lack leadership skills, other stakeholders are leading.
Doctors are seen as people who are ineffective leaders, who lack vision, trust, relationships, have narrow networks, don’t work well with each other, don’t take care of themselves and don’t form effective teams that deliver results. This is not a surprise of course because — we never learn these skills in med schools. We learn sacrifice, we train in small apprentice type environments small cultures and single mindsets without a big picture system-wide vision.
Having a fulfilling career as a physician, with practice autonomy, professional respect, patient safety and satisfaction, desired impact and influence is within our reach.
But in order for it to happen, we need to learn a few things, such as:
how to create cohesive diverse and multidisciplinary teams
how to lead with impact and transformation, because physician leadership is usually not through direct reports
navigating collaborations with administrators and stakeholders who have opposing value systems and goals
becoming an inspiring, confident, broadly thinking leader that others want on their teams
The good news is that leadership skills can be learned and don’t require years of networking and taking fancy courses. You can become a powerful leader now, if you are ready for it.