Medical staff leadership: Getting together

In my last column I offered a tip for both new and experienced medical staff leaders on the vital connection your medical staff professional (MSP) can bring to you as your "go to" resource on how to perform your job most effectively and with less effort. I received numerous responses from you validating this tip as fact!

Well, this month's tip for becoming a successful medical staff leader is about building a solid leadership team. This is the time of year that nominating committees at many hospitals are ramped up to begin the vetting process as they select qualified candidates and present slates for their medical staff election process. The members of the medical staff will identify potential leaders, and their peers will appoint or elect a lucky few to leadership positions. It then becomes the role of the medical staff president or chief of staff to immediately start working on team building skills with new leaders-these newly elected and/or reelected members are now part of your medical staff leadership team, and it's time to "get together."

As clinical leaders you are widely acknowledged as important innovators and champions of patient initiatives and practice management. Often your excellent reputation and visibility is derived from your instinctive leadership efforts and involvement in multiple activities. While it is understood that good leadership is essential to improve clinical outcomes, it is also important to consider the potential transformative effect of developing and blending the talents and energy of your colleagues who have accepted the awesome responsibility of serving as a leader.

It is true that team development takes time-a priceless commodity for all physicians- and effort. However, the time and effort spent can be enjoyable, especially when shared with a significant other. Your colleagues are more likely to embrace the leadership experience and promote change if they are personally involved in a shared vision and process, so this commitment must return a significant benefit. Involving the team members and significant family members in social events can immeasurably enhance the experience for all concerned.

So get to know your leadership team through an initial kick-off social or cocktail party that includes governing board members, key members of the administration, as well as you and your team members' significant others. Create situations that optimize collegiality and interaction, e.g., a medical staff dinner dance, holiday party, CME cruise, golf tournament, picnic, tours, etc. 

Unlike the politician who witnessed a mob of constituents running by and stated, "I must find out where my people are going so I can lead them," an effective leader understands the importance of fostering dynamic and responsive leadership. As the medical staff president or chief of staff, investing time in the most valued resource-the team-is the best way to foster commitment to the process of working together.

Your skills as an effective leader can be initiated as easily as a dinner engagement. Give it a try, and as always, let me know how it works!  I look forward to visiting with you during my next installment of tips to becoming a more effective medical staff leader.

Until next we speak.SMILE

Donna Goestenkors, CPMSM
Credentialing and Privileging consultant
The Greeley Company