- Polish personal practices
Early in your career, you must sharpen essential practices, such as time management, strong work ethic, perseverance to get a job done as promised, professional etiquette, integrity, and projecting your authentic, professional self. - Become a great team player
Success in healthcare administration is not about how much you can achieve for and by yourself, but rather how well you work with and lead others to achieve organizational. Objectives. Increase your exposure to teams early in your career to develop the skillsets required to first be an effective team player, and then you can master being a team leader. - Strengthen core competencies
Aspiring senior leaders master the content of their current position and then continue to focus on developing supplemental skillsets. Here is an example of core competencies you should work towards mastering.
Master the Job
Early Career
Mid-Career
- Strengthen higher-level competencies
After a few years in the profession, you want to focus on improving the more advanced competencies for your position. Begin the process by assessing your current level of competency. You can also continue improving your competencies by becoming actively involved in your professional membership organizations, as summarized by Executive Recruiter John E. Green, Jr. - Expand cross-function proficiencies
Sometimes you have to leave your niche in order to discover your potential. Learn at least basic proficiencies in several other departments or related areas. - Hone Team-Building Skills
- Sharpen problem-solving skills
By this point in your career, you will be honing your skills in managing staff—oftentimes a group of individuals who are diverse on several dimensions. An essential skill to master is team building. Check out this quick tip from Shanna Johnson on strengthening your team’s connections.
Tool:
The ACHE Healthcare Executive Competencies Assessment Tool is offered as an instrument to use in assessing your expertise and determining competency gaps in critical areas of healthcare management.
Senior Career
- Understand senior role’s complexities
- Hone political astuteness
- Sharpen inclusive leadership skills
Senior leaders who are, themselves, demographically diverse will benefit from sharpening their skills in inclusive leadership. This article from Healthcare Executive provides practical tips on being an inclusive leader. - Shift focus from tactical to strategic
At this point in your career, your professional moves should be at the strategic level. Anton J. Gunn summarizes his focus on strategic career moves.
Tool:
The ACHE Healthcare Executive Competencies Assessment Tool is offered as an instrument to use in assessing your expertise and determining competency gaps in critical areas of healthcare management.