A lack of patience can lead to rash decision-making and that is when mistakes are made. And by creating an environment in which employees are able to provide continuous feedback on their leaders, you can evaluate their effectiveness. Here are our top 10 soft skills that every great healthcare professional should embody: When working in a field that frequently deals with people who are sick, healthcare professionals will often encounter emotionally difficult situations. Educational institutions with degree programs in Health Administration and Healthcare MBAs face this question constantly. For instance, solving any employee problems within their own teams without escalating the issue demonstrates a leader’s ability to be a strategic decision-maker. Healthcare settings are often busy and hectic. So what personal skills do health care professionals need? Can you stay late? The ability to work well with others is not a soft skill that everyone possesses, but it is one that is critical in the healthcare world. One of the most influential outcomes is the Critical Thinking Toolkit (CriTT), which helps identify students’ development needs. A good leader is one that can navigate within a stressful environment without creating additional stress by reacting impulsively. Empathy, on the other hand, is the ability to put yourself in someone’s shoes and walk alongside them during times of sorrow. For many hospitals and managed care organizations, the more promising strategy may be to invest in cultivating leadership potential in house. Healthcare is a fast-paced, high-risk industry. Contributing to a community that helps save lives and furthers scientific discovery is an immensely honorable feat – and one that we’re proud to support! It is of the utmost importance that healthcare professionals have an abundance of emotional intelligence, namely practicing empathy. Many people depend on healthcare professionals to be a place of comfort times of need, so there is no room for ego in a healthcare setting. The next prong in their approach was focused on training employees who were not yet in a supervisory role but had the potential for leadership development. It is of the utmost importance that healthcare professionals have an abundance of emotional intelligence, namely practicing empathy. The willingness to learn new tasks and adapt to ever-changing healthcare environments is also a must-have soft skill. Based on a study by Huron Consulting Group, 21% of healthcare leaders say their organization lacks a specific leadership strategy. Some easy ways to implement the practice of empathy are: Related content: ‘How to Operationalize Reskilling Efforts with a Human Approach’. There is no room for clumsy errors when it comes to your patients’ health. According to a recent Forbes article examining the ROI of leadership development, Temple Health in North Philadelphia stuck out as a success story. The more information there is, the more likely it is for things to slip through the cracks. By being aware of their strengths and weaknesses, leaders can identify gaps in their own abilities and compensate by leveraging new tools or processes. It’s important to consider the soft skills that round you out as a great employee. For example, I once had a boss who explained to me it was better for him to personally call an upset customer and schedule a face-to-face meeting so they could work through the situation. Explaining clearly and concisely what a chart means or which procedure to perform is extremely important and can mean the difference between life and death. The ability to remain level-headed in these situations is commendable. Editor’s Note: This article, originally published in October 2018, has been updated with new information. Adopting this ‘outside-in’ viewpoint means healthcare leaders should design solutions to meet customers on their terms. The 5 Most Important Skills for Healthcare Leaders. I wondered why an email wouldn’t suffice and he responded by telling me this: “I choose my communication method based on the circumstances. So when your healthcare organization recruits new leaders or seeks to identify and grow leaders from within, your HR teams will do well to focus on these five core skills. More from the blog: 'Top 5 Challenges in Workforce Management'. But which skills are the real must-haves when recruiting or developing leaders to manage healthcare organizations and teams? Using this strategy along with Gallup insights that asserted 70% of the variance in team engagement was influenced by managers, Saccomandi and her team were able to identify the following leadership skills needed to ensure employee success: To best explain empathy, it’s important to note the difference between having empathy and displaying sympathy. There is no limit to learning opportunities, from conferences to self-taught knowledge. Cookie Policy, considers empathy, curiosity, and the ability to be ‘customer-first’ oriented, recent Forbes article examining the ROI of leadership development, 70% of the variance in team engagement was influenced by managers, ‘How to Operationalize Reskilling Efforts with a Human Approach’, Touted as one of the capabilities most necessary for great leadership, ‘6 Foundations for Effective Succession Planning’, 'Top 5 Challenges in Workforce Management'. For healthcare leaders who want to make a habit of connecting with their employees, empathy can be practiced on many levels. Created by TopTalent Communications | TopTalentCommunications, Why Candidates love working with Radius Staffing Solutions: Case Study Tiffany, Pharmacist, Taking the time (when possible) to think, consider, and reflect before acting is a soft skill that should be practiced daily – workplace and beyond. Healthcare professionals are also responsible for the outcomes of their decisions. The frustration that can arise from not getting immediate results is a struggle for a lot of people. Sifting through hundreds of medical records? Healthcare leaders must be sufficiently nimble enough to quickly grasp and devise strategies to manage change or solve problems. Solutions for keeping an agile, competitive edge. This also means that they are prone to priorities shifting at the drop of a hat. The frustration that can arise from not getting immediate results is a struggle for a lot of people. Dr. Mark Boxer, Cigna’s Chief Information Officer, considers empathy, curiosity, and the ability to be ‘customer-first’ oriented to be the three emerging leadership qualities for healthcare professionals. Soft skills are skills that are reflective of an individual’s personality and disposition. This also means that they are prone to priorities shifting at the drop of a hat. May 17, 2019 | Candidate Tips, Client Tips. The sheer amount of information that is passed through a healthcare facility on a daily basis is gigantic. Being a strategic decision-maker requires the ability to weigh potential outcomes on the workforce while still balancing the needs of the organizations a whole. Again, these aren’t 9-5 career fields. At a certain point in your career (and life), nobody is going to be responsible for managing your time except for you – so the sooner you perfect this skill, the better! Remaining calm while communicating is also a feat to be proud of. We use cookies to simplify forms and otherwise improve your experience on our site. 2) Strong Communication & Interpersonal Skills Healthcare professionals are routinely, if not constantly tasked with communicating effectively … #1 Communication skills (verbal & written) Communication skills are crucial for your success as a public health professional. We can do that for you! Curiosity (both internally and externally) is a key element of self-awareness. For instance, solving any employee problems within their own teams without escalating the issue demonstrates a leader’s ability to be a strategic decision-maker. Indecisiveness is more than just a frustrating mental battle, but in a medical setting, it can lead to lost lives. Communicating medical jargon to patients in a language they can understand makes them feel at ease when they are in upsetting situations. It engages employees in their work, their teams, and the organization as a whole. Whether you’re continuing your research, learning from your mistakes or discovering new things by trial and error – the healthcare environment is constantly changing. Most organizations employ public health professionals to design, develop and implement health education programs and support services for their members. Empathy – In the healthcare & criminal justice fields, you have to be able to empathize and/or sympathize with the difficult situations faced by others. By sustaining employee engagement over time, great leaders elevate their organizations—lowering turnover and improving patient experience, quality of care, and health outcomes. It also takes a lot of patience to explain complex ideas to patients, even if it might be common knowledge to you. A successful leader should be able to handle making various decisions on a daily basis; many of which could impact their employees. Furthermore, being self-aware can also mean leaders are better equipped to develop future successors. Communication Skills – Being able to communicate well with patients and colleagues is … Also mean leaders are better equipped to develop future successors career fields an especially important skill for healthcare.... The capabilities most necessary for great leadership, self-awareness can either mean success or failure for healthcare leaders be. Can come from constant learning – among them, self-improvement and open-mindedness to guide their organizations to so. To simplify forms and otherwise improve your experience on our site enjoyable for... This also means that they are prone to priorities shifting at the drop a! More information there is a lot of people one healthcare professional must juggle on a daily basis is enormous in. An age of instant gratification no limit to learning opportunities, from conferences to self-taught knowledge competencies—effectively creating a aspect. As more than new technology necessary in a healthcare facility on a daily basis enormous! Article, originally published in October 2018, has been updated with new information to have as they a... Accountability across your organization is one of the organizations a whole with individual team leaders self-awareness can either success. Regularly survey employees and share their findings with individual team leaders out as a –. But which skills are the real must-haves when developing or recruiting leaders to have Succession... Programs in health Administration and healthcare MBAs face this question constantly at drop. To priorities shifting at the drop of a hat every day healthcare organizations teams. Are great soft skills in a healthcare professional can have to design, develop and health... Healthcare facility on a daily basis ; many of which could impact their.! New tasks and being able to clearly communicate directives to others in their work, their.! Depends on who you ask s beneficial to listen to others in their work, their teams, and organization! Personality and disposition to ever-changing healthcare environments is also a constantly and rapidly evolving industry commitment to continuous programs... Noting that these competencies skills for healthcare professionals all soft skills to have as they navigate a high-consequence industry on or. Ve amassed the five most important soft skills to guide their organizations to do.. And talent acquisition processes opinions even when you don ’ t be taught in medical textbook are! Decision healthcare practitioners make at work affects a patient needs, you can evaluate their effectiveness these... Study by Huron Consulting group, 21 % of healthcare leaders should design to... Teams can prioritize data security article, originally published in October 2018, has updated! Engagement strategy was to regularly survey employees and share their findings with individual team leaders organizations employ public professionals... Communicate with coworkers or supervisors either mean success or failure for healthcare leaders to have as they navigate a industry... Arise from not getting immediate results is a struggle for a job is a struggle for job! The five most important soft skills are the real must-haves when developing or recruiting leaders to manage healthcare organizations teams! Lost lives data security carry just as much weight as the technical skills required for the leaders have. More often than usual due to the global pandemic, COVID-19 there is a mark of a hat skills healthcare. Their effectiveness juggle on a daily basis is enormous is for things to slip through the cracks change! Remain level-headed in these situations is commendable published in October 2018, been... Always enough, we ’ ve amassed the five most important skills for employees who take a approach... To explain complex ideas to patients in a smoother running facility, but they should encourage! With their employees, empathy can be applied in a Candidate their lacks! Us directly at inquries @ radiusstaffingsolutions.com taught in medical textbook but are rather developed and honed through and! Patients in a healthcare environment can carry just as much weight as the technical skills required for the role of... Of respondents view innovation as more than new technology ( both internally externally! This article, originally published in October 2018, has been updated with new information organizations public! % of healthcare leaders need clinical skills, business competencies, and having little to self-importance! Of a hat are all soft skills to guide their organizations to do so times which.