Insights for New Physician Leaders

Abstract

As a senior health care administrator in both the Northern and Southern California Regions of Kaiser Permanente, I was intrigued by ways to enhance the skills of a new physician leader. The role of a leader is to help others succeed. Although emotional intelligence is a key characteristic of an effective leader, skills and behaviors can be learned and leaders can be developed. Emerging leaders can learn to listen to various points of view, develop a“let’s go see”attitude, gather all the facts before making a decision, train others to be leaders, embrace a spirit of adventure, and develop a knowledge of statistics and finance. Additionally, recognizing and avoiding common pitfalls in leadership will augment effective leadership skills and behaviors.