Physician Leadership - The Art of Influence

Tuesday, February 16, 2016 | MedAxiom

Q & A with Ed Walker, MD, MHA
Professor Emeritus, Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle

Lead the change! Dr. Ed Walker is facilitating MedAxiom’s exclusive 4-part Physician Leadership Certificate Program. In Session 2, we will be covering The Art of Influence including coaching, mentoring and conflict management. Dr. Walker answers a few questions on The Art of Influence below.

• What should every physician know about The Art of Influence?

Influence is everything. The majority of a leader’s work is getting people to align with goal, even when those outcomes don’t appear to be in line with an individual’s personal goals. Influence helps move people to common understandings and alignments.

• How is coaching different from mentoring?

We've really confused these terms to the point that they are, in most people's minds, indistinguishable. But they really are different processes. Sometimes you want to have someone teach you or give advice to be better at something you need to know how to do (better at a sports technique, at a medical procedure, to know something better than before, etc) – that's mentoring. But other times we just want someone to listen to what we are trying to do and ask us clarifying questions without giving advice, teaching or suggesting a solution. Clarifying goals and their impediments without telling the answer is a different form of influence – coaching. We need both, and most of us have used both with our children. Sometimes you need to tell, and sometimes you need to let them discover.

• What contributes to effective coaching?

You need to help the person being coached to develop a new skill, insight or competency so that he or she can achieve a desired goal, and this has to be done in the context of a trusting, non-judgmental relationship.

• How does one choose a mentor?

It's often someone you admire, someone you would like to emulate. Don't pick just one – have multiple mentors – because nobody has everything that you need to learn.

• Who is responsible for conflict management within the dyad leadership model?

It’s a shared responsibility, but the leader is the one who needs to take the initiative, demonstrate patience and model respect, and keep the momentum going toward a fair and just resolution.

What are your questions for Dr. Walker? Bring them to Session 2 of the Physician Leadership Program on April 7, 2016, at the Spring’16 CV Transforum in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Register Now »

Haven’t attended Session 1? You’re in luck. Dr. Walker is leading a Session 1 group on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 from 2 pm – 6pm. This first session of the 4-part Physician Leadership Foundation Certificate will focus on Leadership and Management including:

• The case for physician leadership—defining individual strengths and challenges
• Personal style and self-awareness
• Teams and culture

REGISTER HERE for Session 1

Seating is limited. It is recommended, but not required, to attend Session 1 before participating in Session 2.