As a leader in your organisation , encourage others to have those same conversations . As a person , your work life and your home life are interconnected . That ’ s a reality . But I realised during the pandemic that we always should have been caring as deeply about the people on our team as we care about the people that we care for .
The second personal connection tip is to always know our “ Purpose .” That ’ s essential to the work we do . Always remind ourselves why this work matters . Understanding our “ Purpose ” will keep us grounded , more positive , and passionate about the work we do — even when it ’ s challenging .
Authenticity is a powerful tool for leaders . Value the power of authenticity . Organisations and leaders who encourage authentic behaviour are more likely to have teams that are engaged and motivated . To become more effective at guiding others , authentic leaders must first focus on improving themselves — which is why many authentic leaders are disciplined , missiondriven , and cultivate self-awareness .
Lead without a title in mind . Leadership is about action and outcomes ; it ’ s not about a title . I believe that everyone is a leader , and we should lead from the role we ’ re in . Everyone and every role is important because what we do is always seen as a team sport . For me , getting rid of the idea of chasing a title was empowering , and it enabled me to focus on acquiring the knowledge and skills I needed to make the biggest impact . Keep asking yourself , “ How can I invest in myself today to better myself for tomorrow ?”
Realise success is a journey and enjoy the ride . I believe people need to chase progress , not perfection . In any leadership job environment , if you focus on trying to be perfect , you ’ ll most likely fail . Leadership is a journey , it ’ s not a destination . As soon as you land where you think you should be , the world changes . The current VUCA ( volatility , uncertainty , complexity , ambiguity ) is so dynamic . If you want to be excellent and encourage others to be excellent , focus on always striving to be better than where you are now . It doesn ’ t mean that where you are now isn ’ t great , but it means we ’ re always aiming for more . If we ’ re standing still , we ’ re falling behind in this work .
The true journey to successful leadership is personal . Challenge yourself to find someone — a leadership coach , peer , or mentor — who can reflect the mirror back on you , helping you identify areas of growth and opportunity and how to leverage your strengths for action and a successful leadership journey .
( Excerpts extracted from Becker ’ s Hospital Reviewleadership & Management 2023 )
Dr Timothy Low is the chief executive officer at Farrer Park Hospital in Singapore .
Authenticity is a powerful tool for leaders . Value the power of authenticity .
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com ISSUE 1 | 2023
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