Traits of an effective manager in a medical practice (or any other business)

I am absolutely passionate about helping medical practice managers become better at nurturing, mentoring, coaching, building relationships and focusing on the people they lead. I see a significant lack of focus on these skills among managers AND physician owners. Why am I passionate? Simple – the medical practices that do the best at human resources are the ones that do the best financially – it’s that simple. The following are sample traits of an effective manager…………..

What an effective manager must be:

• Even-keeled and even-tempered
  
• Genuine
  
• Good at reading people’s character and skill level
  
• Honorable
  
• Noble
  
• Sensitive to personal issues
  
• Smart, but human
  
• Someone of high integrity
  
• Apolitical
  
• Sincere
  
• A good communicator
  
• A good listener
  
• A role model
  
• A magnet for talent (the reason people want to stay)
  
• Accessible
  
• Articulate about what he or she stands for
  
• Comfortable with allowing other people to get credit
  
• Disciplined about standards, although open to reasons why they may not be met
  
• Enthusiastic
  
• Studied and precise in conversations
  
• Thoughtful
  
• Transparent, not opaque
  

Source: David Maister, Practice What You Preach, Free Press, 2001

Dear Physician: What are you doing at your medical practice RIGHT NOW to help yourself and your managers become better leaders, mentors, coaches, and role models?