“It’s Your Team That Counts”

That's right, no matter if you run a department for a 1000-bed hospital or a 400-bed hospital with many departments, your management (leadership) team makes or breaks you. 

As you know everyone has a passion or a special skill. Some are blessed with logics. Some think from the heart, while others sit back and take it all in before they react.  Each has its disadvantage and advantage; however, if your leadership team is unbalanced your team is incomplete. 

Just think about life itself, everything needs to have balance. Here we are in spring.  As much as some may have disliked winter it was needed to give balance to the rest of the seasons. Winter destroys much of the ground cover that needs to be under control while allowing spring flowers like tulips and daffodils to bloom!  It actually creates a new beginning! 

It's all in your perspective. Your leadership team needs to have someone with logical thinking to make sure there is consistency to what everyone else on the team is doing.  You also need someone who thinks from the heart, or with compassion.  Because everyone has a different way to communicate interaction should be personalized.  We need people who speak from the heart.  We also need someone to sit back and take it all in. We also need someone to keep us on track! 

Take your time when choosing your leadership team.  Find the fit; get the talent, ambition and personalities to match.  Once you have done this you're half way there. 

I once interviewed a candidate for a supervisor who asked me "how long is the orientation period?"  My response: "Forever. We never stop learning." 

Even as directors, keep looking for opportunities for you and your supervisors to attend learning events to improve the leadership style and how to become a customer-focused leader. 

With the right supervisors a director can turn departments around, take on additional departments, decrease turn over rate and increase staff morale. 

Oh, and don't forget to give the credit to those that deserve it! 

I've got the best supervisors, how about you? 

Till we blog again,

-From the Directors Chair,  Scott