Personality traits are key in selecting a physician leader

Increasingly, personality is proving critical in relating to patients and to the many players you must deal with daily in the healthcare game-payers, referrers, employers. When choosing a leader for your practice, look beyond basic business skills for those all-important personality traits that help you see leadership potential.

With intellect, empathy and integrity in place, and a solid, people-oriented personality, you can add business basics through academic coursework. If your top doctor can't tackle the challenges of everyday inter-group communication issues, your group will never be able to address those problems. Then small problems fester and become mammoth challenges.

What's more, leaders with personality prove their worth when it comes time to tackle tough issues like negotiations. If every partner in your group approaches negotiations timidly, you'll get nowhere with third party payer or hospital contracts. On the other hand, the physician-leader who turns people off with an overly aggressive personality can backfire when leading your group through today's touchy negotiations and relationships.

About the Author

Reed Tinsley CPA

This article is written by Reed Tinsley, a Houston, TX-based CPA with over 30 years of experience advising physicians and medical practices across Texas and the United States. Reed holds certifications as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Certified Healthcare Business Consultant (CHBC), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), specializing exclusively in the healthcare sector. He is a published author, nationally recognized speaker, and trusted advisor to physicians on accounting & tax, practice management, and financial planning. Schedule a Free Consultation.