Silo Syndrome

physician leadership

Silo Syndrome - How Good Physician Leadership Can Help

Physician leadership sometimes means stopping the work to support the worker.  Here’s an example.  “I’m not sure why I chose this job!”  A very competent and normally confident advanced nurse practitioner came to me recently and was distressed about a patient she had seen who was nearing the end of life.  She felt ill-equipped to have end-of-life discussions or shoulder the difficult questions or decisions that would occur with the patient and his family.  The full weight of provider responsibility and the impact we have on patient outcomes was especially heavy that morning. I offered some reassurance and even some “advice” I had received 30 years ago from a mentor: “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen!”  Of course, I was not serious with my advice.  However, it reminded me of the dysfunctional culture that we sometimes practice in.   Certainly, as young physicians, despite being sleep-deprived, exhausted, and hungry, we were told to “suck it up” or to “man up.”  We were taught to be self-sufficient, and that support should not be expected.  Keep working, stay in your silo and tough it out!  How insane!

This mentality needs to change.  My colleague was suffering from what I call “silo syndrome.”  Good physician leadership can turn the silo syndrome into a highly motivated, well-functioning team of healthcare providers if we will recognize that it isn’t just the patient that needs care.

Her work situation had been designed such that she worked alone and was expected to run an independent panel of patients.  While a physician might do initial consults, she was expected to do all of the follow-ups and make the follow-up decisions based on testing results. She was technically part of a multi-provider “center,” but she certainly did not feel part of a team.  No time was set apart for consultation with a physician, no patient reviews were performed, and trying to get advice on the fly was nearly impossible. 

Because healthcare workers are subjected to continuous work environment stress, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of teaming. Every physician interested in good physician leadership needs to take into consideration the fact that all of us need personal interaction.  We need the brief encouragements, the brief moments of celebration for a nice patient outcome, and a brief intellectually stimulating review of an interesting case.  My colleague needed to have someone to process her feelings with and someone to walk with her through the process of making difficult decisions.  Make an effort to build teaming activity into your day today.   If not for you, one of your colleagues needs it!

Physician Leadership Coaching Has Proven Results

Professional coaching is underutilized in medicine.  We experience very busy schedules, make life altering decisions, and fight fatigue every day. Having someone who can look at the big picture and help us navigate can result in many positive outcomes.

Just SIX healthcare coaching sessions for 88 practicing Mayo Clinic physicians improved quality of life, resilience, job satisfaction, engagement and meaning at work.  If you want to deliver top-notch physician leadership for your time,  I invite you to consider physician leadership coaching.

Read the whitepaper that identifies results of the randomized clinical trial measuring outcomes from coaching.

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The Power of Encouragement

physician coach

From Your Physician Coach
The Power of Encouragement

As a physician coach and practicing physician, I can assure you that of us crave encouragement. Whether we are just starting to walk as a toddler, or accepting a new position as a company CEO, our success can be enhanced by a word of encouragement. In the healthcare provider world, young physicians work their way through college, medical school, residency, and fellowship before they ever have what most would call a “real job.” Along this 13-15 year journey encouragement can be life-giving in an otherwise grueling schedule.

A few years ago, I was the staff physician assigned to cover the cardiology consult service at a large academic medical center. A second-year internal medicine resident from a neighboring community hospital happened to be doing an elective with us that week. He was theoretically less well trained than some of the other residents and fellows on service, but as a physician coach, I admired his enthusiasm, thirst for learning, and independent study efforts that far exceeded any of the others. Because of his demonstrated competence, I offered for him to write a review paper on a new technique with me. He eagerly accepted and one week later presented me with a 30-page manuscript complete with 180 references! Later, I encouraged him to apply for a cardiology fellowship and ultimately an interventional cardiology fellowship. One week of rounding with him and several weeks of encouragement finishing the manuscript profoundly impacted his career trajectory. As expected, he excelled in these advanced positions.

Physician Coaching Includes Encouragement

Recently, I had the opportunity to work with a first-year cardiology fellow doing heart catheterizations. Despite it being only his third day on the rotation, it was clear he was naturally gifted and had an excellent fund of practical knowledge. I encouraged him to assist in ways that typical fellows can’t perform until their third year of training. He rose to each challenge. At the end of only three days with him, I told him how impressed I was with his performance and encouraged him to strongly consider pursuing a career in interventional cardiology. His full story has yet to be written, but I believe encouragement from a senior colleague will make a difference for him. Remember, you don’t have to be vastly more senior to make an impact. You only need to be a few steps further along the path to encourage those walking with you. Leadership is not a title; it is the ability to act in a way that inspires others to follow you or your example.

For whom can you make a difference today? A fundamental leadership principle is to encourage and support those in your sphere who desire to grow and advance. Don’t underestimate the influence you can have! Be on the lookout today for someone to encourage. You won’t regret it!

Professional Physician Coaching

Just like everyone craving encouragement, all of us can benefit from professional coaching to sharpen our skill sets and grow as leaders.  Learn more about the growth opportunities Hodgson Leadership Solutions offers for medical providers.  Visit the Healthcare Coaching page.  You can download the complimentary white paper on the benefits of healthcare coaching.

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You don't Have to Burn Out, Stay Stuck in Conflict, or compromise your values. Revitalize Yourself and Your Team. We Have the Prescription.
Request a free consultation
Phone: (440) 903-6666
Email: info@hodgsonleadershipsolutions.com

Address: P.O. Box 23547
Chagrin Falls, OH  44022

(c) 2022, Dr. John Mc.B. Hodgson

Website Design by Elevate Marketing LLC