Stop Following, Start Leading: Your Role as a Healthcare Leader in the Community
Nov 08, 2024
Are you leveraging your role as a healthcare provider to inspire, guide, and grow beyond your clinic?
In the ever-evolving world of healthcare, leadership goes beyond running your own practice, inspiring your team, guiding your patients and growing your business. As a healthcare provider, you hold the power to inspire, influence and ignite change in your community.
In this blog, we’ll explore how you can transform from a trusted practitioner to a trailblazer who leaves a lasting impact far beyond the walls of your practice. Ready to lead boldly?
Key Insights:
- As a chiropractor our lifestyle should reflect the services we provide. Your own commitment to health can help motivate your patients, your followers and the community at large instilling trust and credibility as a health care provider.
- Emotional intelligence is one of the skills that transcends beyond the clinic and into every facet of life. It is a skill that is increasingly important in today’s world. Having empathy for your patients, followers and the larger community fosters trust as a practitioner and a health care provider.
- When you are in your workplace especially your clinic it is vital in understanding that your team is aligned with your vision and goals that will help them move forward in the right direction. While as a leader you must understand where they are in their journey and understanding they are the right fit for your clinic.
- The core attribute of being a leader when running your practice is identifying your team’s strengths and weaknesses and helping them enhance those skills and grow whether they are in administration or management.
- The chiropractic industry is ever-changing and as a chiropractor it is always important to stay ahead of techniques and regulatory changes.
- You want to expand awareness beyond the clinic by offering free workshops or collaborating with local organizations to establish a name for yourself and your clinic within the wider community.
- It is essential to invest in professional development, not just for yourself but for your team to enhance effectiveness as a leader as well as for your team to show up as leaders themselves and to grow your practice further in terms of revenue and clients.
- Focus on fostering a positive culture within your practice for your patients and team members. You want your patients to feel valued, you want to respect everyone and keep communication transparent.
Lead By Example
One thing that is most important for all leaders, especially those in healthcare is you want to lead by action. Whether it is showcasing your daily routine or habits on social media, inspiring your patients and followers with posture tips, new research or even sharing what you do to stay in shape. This raise your credibility as a practitioner and helps encourage patients and followers to be healthier.
Tip: Share your own wellness practices, tips and exercises on social media to keep your community motivated.
Emotional Intelligence Drives Success
Your EQ helps provide an empathetic approach to your work and beyond that. Emotional intelligence is a skill that is increasingly important in today’s world. High EQ helps you respond effectively to emotional cues, create meaningful patient relationships, and foster a positive clinic environment. An empathetic approach can set you apart, encouraging loyalty and creating a culture of care within your practice.
Tip: When interacting with patients or team members, listen with the intent to understand, not just to respond.
Unite Your Team with a Vision That Inspires
A clear vision is a powerful motivator for your team. When everyone understands the clinic's goals and purpose, they are more likely to feel invested in its success. When you are in your workplace especially your clinic it is vital in understanding that your team is aligned with your vision and goals that will help them move forward in the right direction. While as a leader you must understand where they are in their journey and understanding they are the right fit for your clinic.
Tip: Share milestones during team meetings or on social media to highlight progress and reinforce the vision’s importance.
Master the Art of Delegation
The core attribute of being a leader when running your practice is identifying your team’s strengths and weaknesses and helping them enhance those skills and grow whether they are in administration or management. Delegating responsibilities to capable team members allows you to focus on strategic growth and patient care. Effective delegation also empowers your team, giving them a sense of ownership over their roles and helping them develop professionally. This way, you can work on expanding services, optimizing patient flow, or networking within the community.
Tip: Identify your team members' strengths and assign tasks that align with their skills. For instance, if someone excels in patient communication, let them manage client follow-ups, allowing you to focus on clinical or growth tasks.
Adapt to Stay Ahead
Embracing adaptability as a leader enables you to navigate these changes effectively, from integrating new technology into your practice to adopting innovative treatment approaches. The chiropractic industry is ever-changing and as a chiropractor it is always important to stay ahead of techniques and regulatory changes. Adaptability also positions you as a forward-thinking leader who can handle challenges and drive progress in the clinic.
Tip: Attend conferences and participate in continued education opportunities. Sharing new knowledge and trends with your team demonstrates your commitment to staying ahead and benefiting both staff and patients.
Engagement Beyond your Clinic
Your impact extends beyond the walls of your clinic. Actively participating in community events, offering free workshops, or collaborating with local organizations can establish you as a leader in health and wellness within your community. You want to expand awareness beyond the clinic by offering free workshops or collaborating with local organizations to establish a name for yourself and your clinic within the wider community. By doing that you can attract new patients and build a reputation as a trusted wellness advocate.
Tip: Host monthly or seasonal webinars or workshops on topics like posture, injury prevention, or stress management.
Invest in Professional Growth
Leadership is a skill that requires continual development. It is essential to invest in professional development, not just for yourself but for your team to enhance effectiveness as a leader as well as for your team to show up as leaders themselves and to grow your practice further in terms of revenue and clients.
Tip: Explore leadership coaching to refine your skills. Regularly work on your own professional development, and encourage your team to do the same to create a culture of growth within the clinic.
Create a Positive Culture
A thriving practice is built on a strong, positive work culture. Focus on fostering a positive culture within your practice for your patients and team members. You want your patients to feel valued, you want to respect everyone and keep communication transparent. Patient satisfaction and staff morale are often intertwined, as happy team members are more likely to provide excellent patient care.
Tip: Conduct regular feedback sessions with your team to gauge morale and address concerns. Use positive reinforcement to recognize their hard work and dedication, which contributes to the clinic’s success.
Are you ready to take the lead and create a lasting impact in your practice, your patients' lives, and your community?
True North Consulting is here to guide chiropractors like yourself on this journey, offering resources, training, and strategies to unlock their leadership potential and create thriving, sustainable practices.
Ready to elevate your leadership skills and make a lasting impact on your practice and community? Book a free 15-minute consultation with Dr. Cary Yurkiw, founder of True North Consulting, to learn how he can help you. True North Consulting
