Being a good boss is essential, because employees thrive under good leadership. When managers are overwhelmed with tasks, their demeanor changes and the team suffers. Be sure not to give off the impression of “I don’t have time to deal with you.” We cannot lose sight of what team members are going through.
Despite the instinct to dismiss distractions, bosses must communicate well. Many times, intensive problems could be eliminated thanks to proper communication practices. Have you ever had a project take much longer than its projected timeframe for no other reason than poor communication?
To avoid costly situations like this, here are a few key communication guidelines for bosses to follow.
Thoroughly read your emails
Have you asked someone several questions in one email and the person replied to only one? This can be frustrating. That’s why reading thoroughly is important. Also, in the healthcare industry we must make sure we document and read everything about the patient. If you miss a sentence or even a word, it can change everything.
Before sending a message, you’ll want to take the time to review how you come across, as well. Bosses are so busy that sometimes we don’t realize our emails are inadvertently stern or dismissive. It’s important to remember that your employees respect you and look to you for approval. Making them feel small, belittled or talked down to will only hurt morale and cultivate toxic resentment within the team—and that's not the mark of a good boss. They deserve a measured response from you.
Take the time to talk with employees
It’s important to talk to your team members. Make sure you understand what they’re going through and what they need to succeed. This will help your team run more smoothly, and they’ll appreciate you more as a boss for listening to them.
In healthcare, we should also make sure we talk with our team about patients. Often we can control and fix a problem with office procedures before they affect the patients—but we can only do that if we act like a good boss and understand the problem first. After you talk and discuss, offer the support the team needs so that the patient experiences a positive office atmosphere. Remember: Everything rolls down to the patient eventually, good and bad.
It’s important to understand how your staff interacts with patients, and not just because of patient experience. Sometimes, knowing about a problem and not acting to resolve it can be viewed as fraud or abuse. You should discuss specific issues with your compliance officer to ensure that you are approaching patient healthcare honestly and with the intent to help patients heal. Above all, never ignore or dismiss a potential problem for a patient.
Being a boss is a great responsibility, and being a boss in healthcare has an even higher moral standard. By keeping lines of communication open, you will likely create a better atmosphere—for employees and patients alike.