10 Mistakes DPC Docs Make in Crisis: A Lesson In Leadership
In Direct Primary Care, we all are doing something new; new in healthcare, new in our community and new for us as physicians.
As a DPC doc, you are working to gain buy-in from your staff and the community so your practice can thrive. As such, many of us find ourselves in a leadership position that we’ve never been in before. Sometimes we find ourselves unprepared for the nuances of leadership and this is exacerbated during times of crisis and when the future is uncertain.
Not only are you a leader to your staff, but also your patients. Below our ten traps that we can fall in if we are not careful. So whether you are thinking about your staff, or your patients, avoid these pitfalls to come through the storm unharmed:
1. Panicking
When you panic, your staff and patients absorb that energy. If the captain freaks out, the crew jumps ship.
2. Withholding Information
Specifically in regards to your staff, your team can’t help carry the load if they don’t know what you’re carrying. People fear what they don’t know. Silence doesn’t protect trust—it poisons it.
3. Making Unilateral Decisions
A decision without buy-in is a burden, not a plan.
4. Suspending Accountability & Rigor
Listen to your office, abandoning your systems under pressure tells the staff that the rules only matter when it’s easy.
5. Burying Your Head in the Sand
Delaying tough calls multiplies the damage and drains confidence. Patients and staff alike can see when something is amiss and they need you to address it. This is your role, and that is your responsibility.
6. Playing the Blame Game
During these times of crisis, blame turns a global difficulty into a personal concern. An employee worries if they are going to be the one to take the fall. And, a patient will feel attacked or that you’re being unprofessional if they receive the blame (Even if they deserve it)… But remember that negative word of mouth is much more powerful than positive word of mouth.
7. Shutting Down Ideas
Not only does cutting off brainstorming amongst your staff kill creativity, but it completely shuts down ownership. When ownership dies, the leader becomes the beloved genesis of all that goes wrong.
8. Flip-Flopping
Whiplash decisions degrade the reliability and authority of the leader and clinician. If the map changes every mile, no one trusts the journey.
9. Forgetting to Listen
Sometimes we feel like we know best, but as the adage goes, “if you’re going to go far, go together.” Additionally, the ability to listen is what gives DPC its power.
10. Tolerating Bad Behavior
What you permit, you promote. Unaddressed negativity spreads faster than flu in a waiting room.
Uncertainty is guaranteed. Trust isn’t.
As a DPC doctor you are a leader in your office and community. You are working to get your staff on board and lead your patient panel to a better experience. Pay attention to the little things and have a plan before you hit turbulent waters.
Brilliant article with clear actionable recommendations! Thank you so much