Table Of ContentHEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT COLLECTION BB
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David Dilts and Lawrence Fredendall, Editors RR
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The DNA of Physician-Leadership UU
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Myron Beard • Steve Quach
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Physicians are increasingly moving into leadership roles and possess enormous po-
tential to advance health care. However, clinical training and practice does not provide
the necessary skills for a transition from clinician into physician-leader. In fact, the
very skills that make for an outstanding physician often compete, or interfere, with
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the skills required to be successful in wider leadership roles. The authors provide the
aspiring physician-leader with the understanding of what is required to be a successful
physician-leader and the tools necessary for the transition including:
• Understanding the business of health care
• Recognizing physician-leader psychology
• Establishing infl uence, the bedrock of leadership
• Creating a compelling strategy
• Developing high-performing teams
• Delegating to maximize leadership impact THTH
• Communicating for effectiveness EE
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• Negotiating for maximum benefi t NN
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This book is practical and realistic with case studies and recommendations on how to FF
make the changes necessary to transform into a successful and fulfi lled physician-leader. P P
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Myron J. Beard, PhD, is a business psychologist and world-class consult- ICIC
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ant, author, and speaker. He has worked with thousands of executives on NN
facilitating strategy development; creating high-performing teams; lead- -L-L
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ing international merger integration efforts; and working with companies AA
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to assist them in their restructuring efforts. He has worked extensively in EE
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health care, including with Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Kaiser Perma- SS
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nente, Colorado Children’s Hospital, Presbyterian Healthcare, Carondelet IPIP
Health System, Grand River Health, and Gunnison Valley Healthcare.
Steve Quach, MD, is an experienced physician-leader, mentor, and
executive coach. He is the chief executive offi cer at CarePoint Health,
a multispecialty physician group that provides services across the
nation. He was previously the chief medical offi cer at Presbyterian/
St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver, Colorado and the University of
Texas Medical Branch Health System in Galveston, Texas, where he
founded the physician-leadership academy. He is a certifi ed patient MMyyrroonn BBeeaarrdd,, PPhhDD
safety offi cer and proven health care quality leader.
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The DNA of
Physician-Leadership
The DNA of
Physician-Leadership
Creating Dynamic Executives
Myron J. Beard, PhD
Steve Quach, MD
The DNA of Physician-Leadership: Creating Dynamic Executives
Copyright © Business Expert Press, LLC, 2020.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—
electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for
brief quotations, not to exceed 250 words, without the prior permission
of the publisher.
First published in 2020 by
Business Expert Press, LLC
222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017
www.businessexpertpress.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-94999-190-1 (paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-1-94999-191-8 (e-book)
Business Expert Press Health Care Management Collection
Collection ISSN: 2333-8601 (print)
Collection ISSN: 2333-861x (electronic)
Cover image licensed by Ingram Image, StockPhotoSecrets.com
Cover and interior design by S4Carlisle Publishing Services Private Ltd.,
Chennai, India
First edition: 2020
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America.
Abstract
Increasingly, physicians are transitioning away from being clinicians to
becoming health care leaders and administrators. While the reasons for
this transition are varied (e.g., attractive opportunities, lifestyle choices,
personal growth, burnout), the journey to leadership positions is fraught
with new and unexpected challenges. It comes without a roadmap. Virtu-
ally no training is provided in medical school for the consideration that
these physicians may move into leadership positions. In fact, many of the
skills they have developed in medical school have narrowed their focus
and created very specialized experts. Such specialized skills can actually
interfere with preparation for broader leadership positions. Physicians
with MBAs are becoming increasingly common, and yet they still find
themselves underprepared for the challenges of physician-leadership. The
DNA of Physician-Leadership serves to fill that important gap. The DNA
of Physician-Leadership is a practical, step-by-step guide for health care
professionals, providing them the necessary tools required to be successful
in leadership positions, including:
• Understanding typical physician psychology
• Comprehending health care as a business
• Learning the essence of leadership
• Creating high-performing teams
• Delegating for impact
• Setting a compelling vision
• Communicating with influence
• Negotiating successfully
This book comes from real-life examples and experiences. It is complete
with case studies, exercises, and a unique Coach’s Corner, summarizing
each chapter and providing specific suggestions for leadership develop-
ment. In addition, we provide significant insights into the typical person-
alities of physicians and what they will need to change or modify to become
successful leaders. We believe that no such practical guide currently exists
in the literature. The audience for our book includes physicians who are
already in leadership positions or considering transitioning into them.
vi ABSTRACT
Keywords
leadership; health care; medical leadership; hospital; health; administra-
tors; organization; management; health care management; health care lead-
ership; health care administration; physician-leader; physician-leadership;
physician executive; communication; conflict; negotiation; delegation;
goal setting; vision; team; team building
Contents
Acknowledgments ...................................................................................ix
Introduction and Overview ....................................................................xi
Section 1 Foundations of Physician-Leadership .............................1
Chapter 1 Migrating to Physician-Leadership: An Introduction.........3
Chapter 2 The Business of Health Care ...........................................17
Chapter 3 The Psychology of the Physician-Leader: Genotype or
Phenotype? ......................................................................35
Chapter 4 Influence: The Bedrock of Leadership .............................55
Section 2 Execution in Leadership ...............................................73
Chapter 5 Strategy and Visioning: Creating Order from Chaos .......75
Chapter 6 High-Performing Teams ..................................................91
Chapter 7 Delegation: Maximizing Leadership Impact ..................113
Chapter 8 Communication: Delivering Influential Messages .........131
Chapter 9 Negotiation: Competition or Collaboration ..................145
Section 3 Physician-Leadership: A Culmination ........................159
Chapter 10 The Physician-Leader’s Pocket Guide ............................161
About the Authors ...............................................................................181
Index .................................................................................................183
Acknowledgments
The writing of this book would not have been possible without the help
of several important people to whom I am very grateful. First and fore-
most, my thanks go to Scott Isenberg, managing executive editor of Busi-
ness Expert Press, for having the confidence in us to support the writing
and publication of this book. Without his support and encouragement,
we would not have been able to proceed. Likewise, I give most hearty
thanks to my coauthor, Steve Quach. It was initially Steve’s idea that a
book for physician-leaders would be a valuable contribution to the field
of physician-leadership. It was a pleasure to work side by side with Steve
as we collaborated on just what the book would include. I am especially
thankful to my amazing wife, Ann, who offered her critical eye and sea-
soned editing skills in the editing of each chapter. In addition, we thank
our dear friend and colleague, Helen Resnik, who initially introduced
us to each other. Without this introduction, the book would never have
been conceived. Many thanks also go to my much-appreciated sons, An-
drew and Matthew, for their willingness to read select material and pro-
vide their wise input. Last but not least, I thank Alan Weiss, my coauthor
of a previous book, The DNA of Leadership. Alan’s initial introduction to
Business Expert Press made possible that book, and this one. In addition,
Alan has been a great mentor and teacher, from whom I have learned a
great deal about the world of consulting and leadership.
—Myron Beard
It is my honor to have coauthored this book on a subject that is so near
and dear to my heart. Firstly, I am indebted to my coauthor, Myron
Beard. His incredible knowledge of leadership and experience as an
author was what made this book possible. I am thankful for all of the
leaders who have been my role models and shaped me as a leader. Among
them, Donna Sollenberger, Dr. Thomas Blackwell, and Dr. Carl Getto
deserve special mention for providing me with the solid foundations of
