How To Be a Leader & Not a Jerk PT IV

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Once you have taken care of everyone else, don’t forget to take care of yourself.  In medicine, one can’t take care of others unless they take care of themselves first.  This doesn’t simply stop at taking care of your health or boosting your paycheck. Think much deeper. Be worthy of being a leader, keep learning, keep helping, and make yourself a better person.

You must have a solid sense of who you are, what your goals are and how you plan on accomplishing them if you want to lead others.  A lack of clarity in any of these will make you a jerk who is wasting your team’s time and effort. They will grow resentful and you’ll deserve it.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. There are plenty of books on leadership, you can write to me, or even attend a leadership program.  Eventually, you will grow comfortable with your own leadership style and learn how to create systems that will become habits. As you learn, you can then become a better coach for your team – constantly raising the bar for yourself and them!

In the end, the essence of leadership is inspiring others to be leaders as well.  Whatever you expect of your team, expect of yourself too! Jump in the trenches, spend the long hours with them, then bring more to the table.  That humble commitment to greatness is the secret to real leadership.