Dr. Gloria Wu Podcast: Styles in Leading
Introduction:
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Gloria Wu, MD:
Hello, this is Dr. Gloria Wu. We’re going to talk about what is our style of leadership. There are styles of leadership. We defined our style. We have to look at it and then think about, can we change this? Do I want to reinforce this? There’s 6 emotional styles. Visionary, come with me, inspiring, tell your team where they’re heading. You don’t dictate, you encourage. It’s like Dr. Martin Luther King. I have a dream speech. His why is so powerful that people followed him to the ends of the earth. The coaching style. Let’s try this. Empathic, encouraging, developing people for future success. This would be excellent when people want a coaching or a mentoring relationship. Then there’s affiliative. People come first, promoting team harmony, emphasizing emotional connection, values others emotions.
This is extremely good when it’s like a tennis team, volleyball team. We want harmony, we want connection, and then we want success when we’re all together as a team. This is best when there’s team tension or conflict, and this is very positive and kind. Democratic. What do you think focuses on collaboration? Actively seeks input from the teams. Relies more on listening than directing. This is what is classically thought to be how women lead, that we focus on collaboration. Sometimes this is the best because when we listen, we really bring our best foot forward. The World Health Organization has told us that gender is not just male versus female, but it is the role, society’s roles, normatives, expectations of us as females, attributes, opportunities that are created by society, placed on us and they’re given and distributed to boys and girls and men and women.
This is something that we cannot really overcome since society norms have been the same for 3000 years. It’s something that we need to work around. Pace setting. Do as I do now, focuses on performance and achieving, expects excellence, will often jump in themselves to make sure their targets are met. Holds everyone to a high standard. No coddling. This is best for surgeons. All surgeons, male and female fall into this. But sometimes this can be considered to be tough, microaggression. Our teams of younger members may not like this. Lastly, there’s commanding. Do what I tell you. Autocratic, gives orders tight control. This is important especially in the operating room table, gunshot wound, a ruptured spleen, when things must be done really quickly. Performing a code. Remember, there’s no single 1 way to lead. The goal is to identify the style that you’re most comfortable and most likely to employ, and to be able to recognize the strengths offered by the different leadership styles in those around you.
You have to figure out what works best for you and your organization and for you and your small office, for you and a 6,000 MD organization. Again, you’re going to think about this, how you lead, and then you’re going to think about what is your genius qualities, those that you have a natural knack for. Is it creativity, passion, strength, intelligence, quick thinking. You’re going to use all that to create your leadership role, your brand and consistently you’re going to, every morning start with your why statement, to kind of set yourself in the tone of being a leader. Tell your staff this every morning at morning report so they too are on the same page. And then you leadership style will probably evolve and it may not be the same day to day and obviously in the OR in a gunshot wound, it’s going to be a certain style.
When you’re in a committee meeting, it’s going to be a different style. Remember, people always remember their feelings, how you let them feel. You want them in doing this team goal to remember the good feelings they have having you as a leader, because that really reinforces your brand and the fact that you can inspire them and to get to a common goal. That is what we all desire. I still like Rosabeth Kanter’s 6 rules. Show up. Speak up. Look up to your mission statement, to the big picture. Team up. Never give up and lift others up. If you like this, join us again. This is about leadership and women in medicine. Thank you.
