| Credibility & Modeling the Way | The Essential Tools to Effectively Lead | | | |

Ashlynn Boler

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Healthcare is an evolving yet complex system. Being it is constantly changing leaders of health organizations are faced with an infinite amount of challenges. As issues continuously present themselves leaders are pressured to rise to the challenge. Though rising to the challenge is a great quality of a leader. It is the leader’s ability to face those challenges as a person of principle using skills such as modeling the way, building a foundation of credibility, clarifying their values, and setting an example that is essential to overcoming the challenges. Internalizing these qualities is not only critical for overcoming challenges for leaders of healthcare. Internalizing these qualities is critical for all leaders have a desire to have constituents who believe in them.
The leadership in health care is built with specialty physicians and administrators whom each have a different niche in their organizations. Within these organizations the overall task for all is preserving the lives of their acute and chronically ill patients, as well as maintaining a unified environment amongst staff. In order to do so a leader must have a vision. After establishing a vision a leader must gain credibility by keeping that vision at the center of everything they desire to do. Authors Kouzes and Posner (2007) reported that “credibility is the foundation for leadership”, which first must be established (p. 37). Establishing credibility can be exemplified when a leader “practices what they preach”, “their actions are consistent with their words”, and “follows through on their promises” as suggested by Kouzes and Posner (p. 40). When a leader’s action matches their deeds it leads to trust and shows their competence.
Gaining trust is essential for any leader because it is the undercurrent for loyalty. Loyalty from a leader’s follower can cause the constituent to have a sense of team spirit or feeling of commitment to their organization, the leader, and the leaders cause. The competence of a leader can have the same effect on constituents and is fundamental for a leader to gain the loyalty. Having the ability to be a forward thinker enlist a vision, and gives the leader’s constituents insight on how to plan their course for the future. Being able to set a chart for constituents as a leader is credible. It exemplifies the leader’s search of knowledge for what lies ahead for the organizations future.
Matching words and deeds gains trust indeed. But utilizing inspiration as a source of reinforcement can be a tool for trust as well. A leader must enlist its constituents in its vision by encouraging them with an enthusiastic and positive attitude about what the future shall bring. Creating a sense of excitement within constituents provides them with a sense of hope in pursuing the challenge. An upbeat and positive attitude from the leader brings about the constituents commitment as they are able to recognize the leader’s personal commitment.
Take Civil Rights leader and pastor, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for example. He was not a leader of healthcare but a great leader with an in enormous amount of credibility. During his time alive he led many demonstrations for the equality of African Americans. Some of these events include the Bus Boycott in Montgomery, the Freedom Walk in Detroit, and the March on Washington. From day one Dr. King protested for equality for African Americans. His overall goal was for blacks to be seen and treated as equals.
Dr. King led his demonstrations with the intent to make a change and lived by the philosophy of nonviolence. As confirmation of his cause and beliefs King wrote his first book, Stride Toward Freedom where he discussed his “Six Principles of Nonviolence”. Not to mention he went on a pilgrimage to India to study Mohandas Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence. Taking the time to go in this pilgrimage provided him with the additional knowledge during extreme circumstances. This provided Dr. King with the competence. As taking the time to write this book informed his followers of what he planned to do when he got on the frontlines, which helped gain their trust.
During several demonstrations Dr. King proved to his fellow protestors that nonviolence was the answer. Take for example the author Andrew Mach’s report “Martin Luther King Jr.: 8 peaceful protests that bolstered civil rights (2012)” where he discusses King’s “march on Marquette Park in Chicago’s Southwest Side, a white enclave, to protest housing segregation. Thousands of white people gathered, taunting King and the other protesters. At one point, a brick hit King in the head, but he continued the march”. Through all of that he remained non-resistant and never retaliated. His actions proved to match his words, gaining the trust and loyalty of his followers.
Inspiration and hope was placed inside the minds of each of Dr. King’s followers as he talked passionately about what equality could bring African Americans. He spoke of the future where African Americans were able to sit at the front of the bus, drinking from any water fountain they desire, and getting a good education as whites. Trying to reach this goal King sat behind bars on several occasions. His fear for the law was non-existent it seemed for the cause was truly too important. Observing King’s fight and hearing his future objectives resonated inside the minds and hearts of King’s followers gaining their commitment.
According to Kauzner and Pozner (2007) “one certain prerequisite of a leader must be someone of principle” (p.46). Leaders who possess this quality are people with “strong beliefs about principles” (p.46). The foundation for many individuals beliefs are carved from various areas of life such as family and/ or a religious stance which provides a moral truth. Take for instance Christians who serve God Almighty. They model their lives as the bible says such as in Ephesians 2:10 (King James Bible) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Being a person of principle is a significant quality for a leader for it creates integrity. Kouzes and Posner (2002) believe “when you clarify the principles that will govern your life and the ends that you will seek, you give purpose to your daily decisions. A personal creed gives you a point of reference for navigating the sometimes stormy seas of organizational life. Without a set of such beliefs, your life has no rudder, and you are easily blown about by the winds of fashion. A credo to guide you prevents confusion on the journey” (p.346).
To assure the vision and values of a leader are confirmed he can take action to assure he can come across to his followers as expected. Writing a tribute and creating a credo are two examples. A tribute is a concise understanding for the leader where the credo is helpful for the leader and the constituent. In the environment of healthcare a credo of ones principles is essential to a leader’s decision-making. The system of healthcare is based on providing care to people in need and the moment of providing care a leader must use their credo to determine how they will treat that patient.
Take for example, a homeless man who is brought to the emergency department with a laceration on his hand. As he enters the emergency department he screams out obscenities. Unclear of his state of mind the secretary greets him and begins to triage him. The staff surrounding the patient developed a sense of disgust as they smell the must and mildew from his tattered clothes. Receiving the file the physician on-call entered the room the patient was placed in and greeted him joyously. Aware of the patients smell the doctor focused on the laceration. As the patient’s injury was bandaged the physician felt as if his job was far from finished. Noticing the tattered clothes, matted hair, and dirt filled skin the physician gathered some clean clothes, a wash cloth, soap, a razor, and ten dollars. He handed all the items to the man and told him how, he wanted him to be able to have a hot shower and a meal compliments of him.
The physician was a man of principle. He valued human life and had a deep sense of passion for people despite their circumstances. His credo to himself of what he stood for and his purpose remained with him throughout his experience with the homeless patient he assisted. The physician’s colleagues brushed off the patient because of his appearance. Instead of conforming to the norm he exemplified what path a leader takes which is the morally correct path.
Modeling the life of ones higher power is the norm for many. As their beliefs are manifested they help nurture values. Author Dye (2010) reports “values” to be the “ingrained principles that guide behaviors and thoughts”. Values articulate what a leader stands for, believes in, and cares for. The constituent of a leader assesses these values to assure they are consistent with what they stand for. When the leader and their constituent’s values are affirmed as Kouzes and Posner (2007) says it becomes a “foundation for building productive and genuine working relationship” (p.60). Having values is the “core of understanding” for an organization and without it what is everyone “going to model” (p.60).
Though having common values in an organization is important for a leader and their constituents it is determining what values are important. The values that fuel the organization and its cause are what are significant, for these are promises. Even if there is one shared value a leader can establish unity amongst its organization. Though unity is important it must never be forced for it is not genuine. As Kouzes and Posner (2007) reports shared values “foster strong feelings of personal effectiveness, encourage ethical behavior, foster ethical behavior, foster norms about working hard and caring, reduces levels of job stress and tension, and fosters team work” (p.62).
Indian activist, Mahatma Gandhi is a perfect example of what difference one shared value can make. Gandhi was a believer of Hinduism who lived by the principle of ahimsa also known as nonviolence. Using civil disobedience Gandhi fought against oppressive acts against people of South Africa and India. Though his values were developed from Hindu beliefs he tolerated all other religions. During college he studied Christianity and Buddhism to gain a better understanding. Taking the time to understand other religions allowed Gandhi to discover the shared values he developed from Hinduism with those who he fought for. As he fought for the rights of the people in South Africa and India Gandhi discovered that the common value between him and his followers was the respect and equality for all.
Healthcare is a fast-paced environment that consists of employees who demonstrate the ability to work independently. As employees work the leaders of healthcare expect them to exhibit a professional attitude, follow through on commitments, and practice what they preach. It is easy for a leader’s constituents to say what they are doing but to assure it is being done a leader must set the tone. A leader can easily communicate his values, visions, and beliefs unto his followers. But the ability to display it places him in the position as a role model. Leading by example is a fundamental tool for all leaders and their constituents for the leader are accountable for everyone’s actions.
Leadership is not just leading for the good of the leader but for the good of the entire organization; whereas, all are required to set an example. Two essentials for setting the example are for a leader to personify the values they and their constituents share and teaching them to model the way. Kouzes and Posner (2007) believes “practicing these essentials a leader becomes a role model for what the whole team stands for, and creates a culture in which everyone commits to aligning themselves with shared values” (p.76). According to Kouzes and Posner (2007)” spending time and attention wisely, watching the language used, asking purposeful questions, and seeking feedback” are tools leaders can use to personify shared values within their organizations (p.78). But to assure everyone has a sense of accountability to their organization the leader can confront critical incidents, tell stories, and reinforce the behavior they desire repeated to assure everyone has a clear understanding of what is expected. These tools are reinforcements for a leader but are also a visible commitment from a leader who desires a shared way of existence amongst their self and the constituents of their organization.
Utilizing Kouzes and Posner’s (2007) insight on modeling the way and the tools to establish shared values such as “spending time and attention wisely” are important for leaders of healthcare being it helps create a customer friendly environment (p.78). Take for example, a nurse manager of the emergency department who is short staffed. As the night falls it brings about more patients and the nurse manager’s staff becomes over-extended and filled with irritation and frustration. Despite the heavy load the nurse manager remains calm, unflustered, and joins in on assisting patients. Taking the small window of time with each patient the nurse manager exemplifies a positive, upbeat, and empathetic attitude all while obtaining the information needed to treat each patient. Observing the nurse manager’s attitude begins to motivate her staff as they noticed how much work she accomplished with little time and how great patients responded to her. The staff recognized the value of good customer service and all it can accomplish.
Leadership is a position that has no set time or place and carries many names. Some leaders may be called doctor, activist, pastor, or simply the government name they were given. Taking on this role can occur within various sectors such as the home, school, church, and work. Some sectors such as healthcare carry different circumstances. But what remains’ is the tools needed to make an effective leader to run the sector and overcome challenges. It is the leader’s ability to face those challenges as a person of principle using skills such as modeling the way, building a foundation of credibility, clarifying their values, and setting an example that is essential to overcoming the challenges. Embracing the lessons of past leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi has proven that being an exemplary leader by setting the tone and sharing the values of their follower’s gains trust and loyalty. These great men left legacies and proved what qualities are essential to being effective leaders to overcome any challenge.

References
Bio. (2011). Biography. http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/mohandas-gandhi.html
Bio.True Story. (2012). People. http://www.biography.com/people/mahatma-gandhi-9305898
Dye, C. (2010). Leadership in Healthcare: Essential Values and Skills, 2nd edition. Health Administration Press: Chicago, IL.
Kouzes, J. and Posner, B. (2007). The Leadership Challenge, 4th edition. Jossey-Bass, Inc.: San Francisco, CA.
Kouzes, J. and Posner, B. (2002). The Leadership Challenge: How to Get Extraordinary Things Done in Organizations,3rd edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
The King Center. (2012) About. The King Philosophy. Retrieved from http://www.thekingcenter.org/king-philosophy