Top 10 Ways to Be a Better Leader

Leadership is an essential skill set, regardless of the industry in which you work. But when it comes to healthcare, the stakes are higher and the role of leadership is even more critical to the overall success of your hospital or medical organization. Whether you’re an executive director, director of nursing, head pharmacist or administrator, here are 10 key steps you can take to be a better leader in healthcare.

1) Show empathy

Whether you’re talking with your employees or patients, it’s essential that you show empathy for their concerns. Not only does empathy help make employees feel appreciated and valued, but it also helps them take pride in their work and makes them more likely to be loyal members of your team.

2) Listen actively

You’re only going to get as much from a leadership meeting as you put into it. A critical component of any good leader is his or her ability to listen and take in information—so remember, it’s not about you. If you are able to listen effectively, you’ll be better equipped to make decisions that help your team excel.

3) Ask questions

Asking questions is a great way to stay in tune with your team. As you ask questions, be sure that you’re listening to their answers. The best leaders will always make time for their employees and show an interest in what they have to say—even if it’s not about work. Plus, when you ask for feedback from your staff, it shows them that you want them to feel comfortable being honest with you, regardless of how difficult or awkward that may be.

4) Give appropriate feedback

All good leaders give feedback, but how they do it is just as important as whether or not they actually do it. The best leaders are often reflective in their style and unafraid of digging deep into an employee’s performance. To be a truly effective leader, you have to be able to gauge your team’s performance with both compassion and critical thinking.

5) Practice self-care

Leading is stressful, and people often neglect self-care. Make it a priority to take time for yourself, even if it’s just five minutes at lunch. That could mean going for a walk, taking some deep breaths or journaling about your day.

6) Share credit

One thing we’ve noticed about bosses—good and bad—is that they often take credit for good things their team does, even if it wasn’t their idea. Instead of only taking credit for your own work, share credit with those who deserve it. Not only is it a good leadership practice, but it also instills confidence in your team members. When people feel valued by you and know they are working toward a common goal, they are more likely to stay loyal.

7) Know your strengths

Leaders aren’t perfect, but they are good at certain things. If you’re honest with yourself about your abilities, then you can tailor your strengths toward leading effectively. For example, if you’re an analytical person who values logic and reasoning over empathy and emotion, then don’t try to be someone else when it comes to being a leader. Instead, rely on your strengths as much as possible.

8) Build trust by delivering on commitments

If you want people to trust you, deliver on your commitments. This is by far one of the most basic tenets of leadership. It’s that simple. If your team trusts you, they will follow through with whatever needs to be done and become highly engaged in their work. In addition, research shows that if employees don’t feel trusted at work they will leave a company within two years. So what can you do to earn their trust?

9) Be consistent with expectations

Most workplaces function best when employees understand what is expected of them. They need clearly communicated expectations, standards and milestones so they can do their jobs effectively. While it’s impossible to anticipate every situation that may arise, it’s possible to come up with general guidelines that will apply across most scenarios. If you work on a team where there is little communication or leadership, then step up and help fill in any gaps. You’ll be surprised how much people appreciate your initiative.

10) Create a comfortable environment

A good leader provides an environment that is comfortable for those around him or her. If your employees feel like they can express themselves without being judged, you’re much more likely to have success as an organization