You’re struggling to get ahead in healthcare. What’s the one skill you need to develop?

1 Why leadership matters

Leadership is not only important for senior positions, but for any role that requires collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. As a healthcare professional, you often work in teams with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise. You need to be able to coordinate, delegate, and resolve conflicts effectively. You also need to communicate clearly and persuasively with patients, families, colleagues, and other stakeholders. And you need to be able to cope with change, uncertainty, and stress in a fast-paced environment. Leadership skills can help you do all these things better, and also boost your confidence, reputation, and satisfaction.

2 How to assess your leadership

Before you can improve your leadership, you need to know where you stand. There are many ways to assess your leadership skills, such as self-evaluation, feedback, or formal tools. One of the most widely used tools is the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), which measures five practices of exemplary leaders: modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the heart. You can take the LPI online or use a book version, and get a report that shows your strengths and areas for improvement.

3 How to improve your modeling

Modeling the way is about aligning your actions with your values and expectations, as well as being accountable, honest, and ethical. To improve your modeling, identify and articulate your core values and principles to your team. Additionally, set clear and realistic goals for yourself and your team, then track progress and results. It's also important to recognize and admit mistakes so you can learn from them. Demonstrating commitment, enthusiasm, and competence in your work is also key. Finally, show respect and appreciation for others’ contributions and achievements.

4 How to improve your vision

Inspiring a shared vision means creating and communicating a compelling picture of the future that motivates others to join you. To do this, it's important to explore and understand the needs, values, and aspirations of your team and stakeholders, envisioning how your work can make a positive difference for them and society. Involve others in co-creating and refining your vision, and use stories, metaphors, and images to convey it in a vivid and memorable way. Additionally, celebrating and rewarding milestones that support your vision can be beneficial. By using these tips, you can improve your vision.

5 How to improve your challenge

Challenging the process involves seeking and taking on difficult tasks that test your abilities and push your boundaries. It also means being proactive, adaptable, and resilient when you experience obstacles or setbacks. To improve your challenge, you can look for opportunities to learn and grow in your work, accept feedback from others to enhance your performance, take calculated risks to experiment with new approaches, anticipate and prepare for potential challenges, and embrace failures as opportunities for innovation.

6 How to improve your enablement

Enabling others to act requires fostering a climate of trust, collaboration, and empowerment among your team and stakeholders. This means being supportive, respectful, and inclusive in your interactions. To improve your enablement, you can delegate tasks and responsibilities to others while providing the authority, resources, and guidance they need to succeed. Additionally, encourage teamwork and cooperation by listening actively and empathetically to others’ opinions, ideas, and concerns. Give constructive and timely feedback, recognition, and praise to help them develop their skills. Finally, share information, knowledge, and resources with others to promote a culture of learning and sharing.

7 How to improve your encouragement

Encouraging the heart means recognizing and celebrating the efforts and achievements of your team and stakeholders. To do this, express gratitude and appreciation to others for their work and contributions, and show them how they make a difference. Celebrate and reward individual and team accomplishments, as well as create opportunities for fun and socialization. Additionally, inspire and motivate others with your passion, energy, and optimism, while showing care and compassion for their well-being. Lastly, build positive relationships with others by showing them respect and trust.

8 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?