Values in Leadership
In today's society, the term leadership is frequently misused as an adjective to describe a person's role in supervising another person. Early on in my professional management career path, my direct report, in a friendly manner, told me my role as the Director of Surgical Services was a manager role and she was the leader in her Assistant Administrator role. It was her job to set the vision and my job to make sure it happened, to do tasks. I was indignant! I was certain she did not appreciate the effort I made to get things done. Was she correct? As I began to get my head around writing this newsletter, I have reflected on the true values of a leader.
In talking with first line workers over the years, it has become very clear that these valuable members of the team view the leader of the facility as 'boss'. The perception is this boss-type person has it easy, does not understand, and they dream of what they would do if they were in charge. There are several manners in which a person will become responsible for the future of the company and others work - nature/personality, promoted, power, payback, financial, or no one else will do it!! Studies have shown that certain personality types are inherent to a great leader. Yet, we have all witnessed a person promoted to their highest level of incompetence. Regardless, the qualities of a great leader settle down to a few important characteristics: maintain a low profile; finish tasks; do every task with equal dedication; work with what you have; pay attention to detail; and be available. Think about the action examples of each characteristic.
When doing a good/great job it is easy to become addicted to attention!!
Maintaining a Low Profile - Integrity
- Don't promote or call attention to self
- Accept recognition gracefully
- Don't allow recognition to distract from work
- Let work speak for itself
- Do good work for the sake of good work - not for attention
- Self promotion doesn't work
- Quietly serve in the shadows
Finish Tasks - Integrity
- Fulfill responsibilities
- Keep promises
- Be Trustworthy
- Be Dependable
- Complete Commitments
- Don't quit when discouraged
- Don't leave job half undone
- Honor your word
Many people are willing to do the 'great' things, Few are willing to do the 'little' things
Do Every Task with Equal Dedication - Respect/Integrity
- Size of task irrelevant
- Never too important for menial tasks
- Does it need to be done
- We grow with small things
- Develops our character
- Small tasks show a big heart
- Great opportunities are often disguised in small tasks
- Little things determine big things
Work with What You Have - Stewardship
- Less than perfect service is always better than the best intention
- Almost everything we do is done poorly when we first start doing it - It's how we learn
"If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done" Ecclesiastes
Pay Attention to Detail - Efficiency
- To the needs of the team
- Always be looking to help others - Seize the moment
- We may miss opportunities to help
- When we don't take the moment to help, shows lack of sensitivity and spontaneity
- May only get that chance to make a difference
Be Available - Stewardship
- Be available with your resources
"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can" John Wesley
As leader, we have a responsibility to set the vision and the plan for success. Using agreed upon values to guide the decisions and activities that will determine the future and provide the foundation for your employees to work on.
Joyce (Deno) Thomas, Senior VP Operations
Regent Surgical Health
P. 708.492.0531
F. 708.731.5134
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