I was talking with a friend of mine in the medical field and the idea of care versus treatment came up. When I heard that idea it made me think about how we lead.
Allow me to provide a little context. A doctor who is providing care is creating an environment that often is proactive in nature. Think of your annual physical.
On the other hand, a physician who is providing treatment is responding or reacting to a problem. Think of an emergency room physician or a sick visit at your regular doctor.
As leaders we can do the same.
Leadership Care
I have had the opportunity to spend time around multiple sport coaches and see various leadership styles. One coach I remember intentionally took time at the beginning of every practice to invest into his players. He would provide them with a notebook and they would discuss specific traits that made a good player.
The next part of his practice was focused on the fundamental skills necessary to excel. This combination consistently provided high performing teams. This coach understood how to provide leadership care. He knew if he focused on the daily disciplines combined with a greater purpose he would get increased results.
Leadership Treatment
Some organizations regularly operate by this method. They tend are reactive instead of proactive. Imagine if firefighters never did training exercises, but waited until there was an actual fire. How effective would they be?
There are times when as leaders we must react and deal with a problem that has been thrust upon us, but then we are engaging in squeaky wheel leadership. You know if you lead by this treatment method because you feel constantly stressed and behind. A treatment-based leadership mindset is constantly reactive in nature.
Stephen R. Covey in his classic book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People states:
“what matters most is how we respond to what we experience in life.”
This ability to respond instead of react requires us to step out of the treatment mode long enough to think into the leadership challenges we face and move forward judiciously.
Treatment is necessary because problems and emergencies need attention, but the more proactively we lead, the more effectively we will think ahead and provide care to those we lead. Transformational leaders see the bigger picture before others and can call people to join them in that journey. This is leadership care at its best.
What ways do you function in leadership care mode? Please share. Are you stuck in treatment mode and need someone to come alongside you to help you think into how to be more proactive in your leadership? If that is you contact me for a no cost thirty minute thinking partner session. In the meantime. Lead well.
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