Written by Kathy Fauble, Professional Education Services Director, and Liz Swanson, Assistant Director
I have mentioned before that I am a Harry Potter fan. I am an avid reader of all types of books, but this series is the only one I seem to revisit again and again. This quote struck me when I was breezing through the Deathly Hallows book recently. “It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.”
I think this quote stuck out because back in the early spring we hosted the ICAHN Physicians Leadership Academy. The very first thing on the agenda were introductions. Almost every person had the same story when they introduced themselves. I was hired thinking I was going to do XYZ and then found out on day one I was really doing XYZ + ABC. This is a common story in rural health. In every Nurse Preceptor training, when asked why they took this training or became a preceptor, many times they have no idea how they were recruited to train and orient new nurses to their facility. I know it is hard in rural when we have a small staff and yes, many times these individuals become great leaders, but are we really doing ourselves a service when we do this? How do we help bring people up instead of thrusting leadership on them?
What is the Plan?
First, you need a clear strategic plan and an understanding what you expect from rising leaders. Start by ensuring the employees you tap to be leaders have bought in to the process and agree with taking on extra responsibility. Team members need to have a clear understanding of why they are being asked to do something. Secondly, it is important for a leader to have succession plans for everyone on the team including themselves. The last thing you want is for the loss of an employee to affect the quality of care of your patients or the morale of your team. Putting time in to developing and maintaining a strategic plan can save you time and heartburn in the long run. A good strategic plan is a living breathing document so it will be constantly changing. Spend 30 minutes every week to make sure you are still on target with your action plan and objectives.
The Truth is....
The truth is that very few individuals who have power thrust on them will become Harry Potter; instead, they are more likely to leave the organization or at the least not be as effective as they could be. If you work with them and they understand their responsibilities and expectations, they can wear the leadership position well. Design your plan, work your plan, and revise in constantly.
