Most of the leaders I have interviewed over the years have shared excellent advice and leadership habits they believe have helped them succeed. It is always encouraging when I hear many of them give the same advice, especially on the habits they feel have contributed most to their success. This consistency of advice from these highly successful leaders is good news for you and me!
Here is some insight into the habits of some of the most successful leaders across the country. Let’s learn from them!
“I spend a ton of time praying, reading, and thinking; I’ve found if I do that early in the day, it gives me the chassis to stand on and build on for the rest of the day where things make sense in the right context. Otherwise, you feel like you’re just a feather floating on the ocean and you’re not really in control of where you’re going.”
“Communicate well at all levels of the organization, and go and see the work being done.”
“There are a lot of people smarter than me. That’s the trick—you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room if you surround yourself with a lot of really smart people who make you look good! I want to put my head on the pillow every night, look in the mirror every night, and know that every decision I made I can feel good about, and that I don’t have to question myself.”
4. Diligence and Commitment to Mission –Mike Williams, President & CEO of Community Hospital Corporation:
” We have a mission to accomplish and an audience to serve!”
5. Transparency and Being a Teacher – Chris Van Gorder, President & CEO of Scripps Health:
“We share everything very openly. When I hold our leadership sessions, our Leadership Academy and Employee 100, I spend time and we just Q&A.”
“Managers have to be teachers. I think our biggest job is to be a teacher.”
“Maintain your personal credibility, consistently produce and achieve, and align yourself with good people.”
If you truly want to be more successful, be willing to learn from those who have walked that road. Embrace and adopt these 6 habits today and actively apply them to your own life to become more successful—personally, professionally, and organizationally!
For more great lessons from highly successful healthcare leaders all across America, visit AmericasHealthcareLeaders.com.
