Welcome to Leadership from CSA Practice Management
by Karen Sibert, MD, FASA
Are true leaders born or made? One definitive answer to this question came from the legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi: “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Known for his devout Catholicism, Lombardi was equally well known for his zero-tolerance for racism or prejudice of any kind, ahead of his time, famously saying the only quality that mattered to him was for his players to be “Packer green.”
Anesthesiologists are team leaders in the operating room, and we know that the essential attributes of organizational skill, emotional intelligence, and calmness in crisis can enable anesthesiologists to succeed as leaders in hospitals, businesses, and in the halls of government. If anesthesiologists don’t step up to leadership positions, our profession runs a risk of being left out when decisions are made concerning key issues including practice models and payment structure.
Effective leadership in the world of medicine requires additional skill sets that aren’t necessarily taught, or taught well, in medical school. Here’s where CSA can help! Critical skills include:
- Understanding the political and legislative issues facing anesthesiology and your practice today
- Understanding the fundamentals of financial statements
- Developing skills in clear writing and effective speaking
- Articulating your leadership values and explaining them to your team
- Practice in the art of negotiation and conflict resolution
- Understanding change management and articulating strategy choices.
Developing these critical skills can be important at any stage of career, and it’s never too late or too early to begin. Whether an individual’s goals include advancement within your current practice or a full career change, leadership training can help anyone overcome self-perceived weaknesses and develop new areas of expertise.
CSA’s hope is that the educational materials and resources we’re curating on this website will help every CSA member make the strategic decisions and career choices that will lead to long-term satisfaction, professional and personal.