The sweet space of executive coaching: when leadership gets messy

Abstract

The basis of successful leadership rests in leading and developing your people, not in maintaining the status quo. In transition to a new leadership role, medical leaders will often try to mend historical conflicts and build new and trusting relationships. However, about six months in, old patterns begin to surface and the messiness of leadership rears its ugly head. Leaders must recognize that this is where their leadership begins — with growing their people and leading their teams through the inevitable messiness of leadership. To meet this challenge, leaders must understand the reason they have come to leadership. To enhance team function, they must work to develop their internal self-awareness, an understanding of their own beliefs, values, and emotions, and external self-awareness, an appreciation of the impact of their words and actions on others. This can be amplified by understanding the value of “thinking slow” or looking at problems intentionally, without an automatic or intuitive response. The key is developing a deeper understanding of yourself and what you bring to leadership to support sustainable change in the health care system, and this is where executive coaching can assist medical leaders — to limit the messiness and create a supportive environment for self-reflection and personal development.