Over the past several months, many clients and colleagues have shared concerns about resiliency in their own lives and whether they have the stamina to continue the effort as we emerge from the pandemic. During this time, there have been many operational changes in the practice to tend to and many of us have, at times, overlooked the need to stay physically and mentally healthy. Much like the airline pilot who reminds passengers to put the oxygen mask on themselves before assisting others in the event of an emergency, one must do what is necessary to keep themselves healthy before they can be expected to assist others when leading the practice.
An effective leader is one who accepts that they are human and recognizes when they are approaching their own limits. Leaders who attempt to “grind through” will potentially alienate others as they move through their day, exhaust themselves to the point of being counterproductive, or both. With that in mind, we often need to return to the basics and better position ourselves to effectively lead the practice. As with so many of you, I often get to the point when I feel like I’ve gotten nothing accomplished. Have you ever had a day like that? Days when you feel like your wheels are spinning and you have absolutely no traction. You take one step forward and two steps back because each day more is added to your plate than you are able to get done. What are we to do in the ever-changing list of demands as we lead our practices?
This is when we need to follow the concept of “KISS”. No, I am not referring to the legendary rock band. Rather, "Keep It Simple Stupid" is a crass phrase that encourages us to looks for the simplest solution to a given problem. Sometimes we are able to come up with our own system such as a simple “to-do” list to manage our responsibilities in the practice to make sure we are scheduling the appropriate amount of time to complete things while ensuring we do not pile too much onto ourselves. Other times, we take the time to rethink what needs to be done within the practice and delegate more with the help of PMI’s “Responsibility Matrix”.
Many of us take the extra step to invest in ourselves and surround ourselves with like-minded people to learn from others how to become more effective leaders. Each of us has our own approach to staying on top of things. However, we should all be cognizant of the need to recognize our limits and identify ways to “work smarter, not harder”. One great event coming up that can help many of us in this area is the Women In Pediatrics retreat being put together by Katrina Skinner, MD, FAAP this September. This exclusive event will bring together experts from around the country to help pediatricians recharge their batteries with a variety of educational and social events so that they are better prepared for the challenges to come. Be sure to check out the details here.