Recognizing leadership potential
What does Dr. Gartland look for in physicians with leadership potential?
“Are you someone who collaborates well?” he asked. “Someone who raises your hand at meetings or gets engaged with the issues? Do you volunteer to take on assignments? Are you someone with a balanced perspective, system minded in thinking and inquisitive, with a positive approach to problem solving?”
A lot of physicians might come to a meeting with the hospital or their boss and complain about all the things that aren’t working, he said, but “it’s rarer for them to come in and say: ‘I see these problems, and here’s where I think we can make improvements. How can I help?’ ” Dr. Gartland looks for evidence of emotional intelligence and the ability to effect change management across disciplines. Another skill with ever-greater importance is comfort with data and data-driven decision making.
“When our national health care system is experiencing so much change and upheaval, much of which is captured in newspaper headlines, it can sound scary,” he said. “I encourage people to see that complex, dynamic times like these, filled with so much change, are also a tremendous opportunity. Run towards and embrace the opportunity for change. Hospitalists, by nature, bring with them a tremendous background and experience set that is invaluable to help lead positive change in these dynamic times.”
The SHM has offerings for hospitalists wanting to advance in leadership positions, Dr. Gartland said, including its annual Leadership Academy. The next one is scheduled to be held in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 4-7, 2019.
“The Leadership Academy is a great initial step for physicians, especially those early in their careers. Also, try to gain exposure to a variety of perspectives outside of hospital medicine,” he said. “I’d love to see further advances in leadership for our specialty – growing the number of hospitalists who serve as hospital CEOs or CMOs and in other leadership roles. We have more to learn collectively about leadership as a specialty, and I’d love to see us grow that capacity by offering further learning opportunities and bringing together hospitalists who have an interest in advancing leadership.”