PHYSICIAN LEADERS
times , we gave Miles a treat when he did something we wanted him to do . Like many dogs , Miles is very treat-oriented , and I am happy to be his treat mom when he does what I ask him to do . It warms my heart just as much as it warms his belly when I see him wagging his tail when I give him his treat . As leaders , we need to remember that positive reinforcement is so important to our team . We do not have to make grand gestures or only reward our team for major accomplishments . A simple thank you or words of encouragement when someone does something well is just as important . Not only does it express appreciation , but it provides feedback for our team on how they are doing . Sometimes , as leaders , we are quick to criticize when things aren ’ t going well , and we fail to recognize when things are progressing in the right direction . We also forget to share the joy in praising our team when they are doing a great job . Recognizing and reinforcing the good can help make the path to change easier .
8 . Be comfortable with the uncomfortable . During our initial sessions with Tom , he constantly would tell me that Miles needed to be comfortable with the uncomfortable . In reality , he was telling me that I , too , needed to be comfortable with the uncomfortable . It was hard to see Miles pull on the leash when he did not want to “ heel ” or be zapped on his training collar when he would not sit . He would continue to have me walk Miles around and place him in sit when Miles was visibly tired and not wanting to listen . However , as leaders , we have to be comfortable with the uncomfortable , especially when we are trying to enact change . Change is uncomfortable , its whole purpose is to push us out of our comfort zone and do something different . As leaders , we can either give in and stay in the comfort zone or move forward to something better at the risk of feeling uneasy .
9 . Take time to enjoy your surroundings . One of Miles ’ favorite things to do is lie down and watch what is going on outside . His two favorite spots are our back deck where he can look out over our whole backyard or in front of my husband ’ s home office window where he can see everything happening in our cul-de-sac . There are times when I take him outside thinking he will run around , only for him to lie on the deck and enjoy the sunshine . Many times , I sit down next to him and enjoy the view . As leaders , we get so caught up in our schedules and to-do lists , that we forget to take a break and just enjoy what is around us . When we are trying to make change , we feel like we have to constantly be on the go so we don ’ t lose time or get left behind . However , taking a break and enjoying our surroundings allows us to reset and refill our cup so we are not running on empty .
10 . Be loyal and trustworthy . When we first adopted Miles , it took him awhile to trust us . It also took us many months of training to trust him . However , now he is always at my side when I am home , and I miss him when I ’ m at work . As leaders working with our teams , loyalty and trust are key components for a strong , collaborative unit . Particularly when we are asking our teams to change , trust and loyalty need to be part of the foundation . Our team has to trust that we have their back just as we must trust our team . Without that trust , the unit falls apart .
Dr . Briones-Pryor is the Medical Director for the Hospital Medicine Service Line for UofL Health and is the Chief Medical Officer for UofL Health Shelbyville Hospital .
12 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE