Tim Tebow and Hospital Administrators

Woman in Kathmandu - photo by JoAnn Sturman

Scott Sturman
fliesinyoureyes.com

Several years ago the board of trustees at a local hospital decided a change of administration was in order. The hospital was acknowledged to be the best in the Central Valley, but like an owner who will be only content once he wears a Super Bowl ring, it was time to hire a new coach who could deliver. True, like many other hospitals there were some economic difficulties, but it was home to the area’s most competent physicians and a highly motivated hospital staff. It took the new administrator and his team less than five years to destroy the hospital’s reputation, undermine its financial integrity, and leave it in a position where it will take years to recoup some semblance of former glory.

Too many hospital administrators lack leadership ability. They exhibit many if not all of S.R. Oberst’s unleadership principles. Put them in the woods in a survival situation and few of us would follow them to the latrine even if suffering from diarrhea. Their resumes brim with accolades and achievements, but strip away the verbiage and few of them have any idea how to motivate the medical staff and employees. They should take a lesson from Bronco quarterback, Tim Tebow.

Tebow is a raw talent with unorthodox skills. He makes mistakes and throws a wobbly spiral, but he is a proven winner. He may stink up the gridiron for 55 minutes, but watch out for the last five! How does he do it? Despite his humility and fierce competitiveness, the secret lies in his ability to motivate others. He plays for a team with mediocre talent, but the players give a 100% effort throughout the entire game. They believe in him and feel each one of them is an integral part of the team. They may be behind by two touchdowns with four minutes left in the game, but in their minds victory is at hand.

Suppose Tim Tebow was a hospital administrator. He would not sit in his office with the door closed and ruminate about how to embellish his career or initiate harebrained schemes without understanding the problem. He would be seen at all hours throughout the hospital, talking with everyone from janitor to physician to learn firsthand how to improve the organization. It is called charisma, a lost art in today’s corporate world. Stuffed shirt unleaders pooh pooh it, but it is highly effective and employees love it.

Tebow leads by example and does not expect any teammate to do anything that he would not do himself. This is in sharp contrast to administrators whose leadership styles emulate either wall flower Wally Cox or pillager Genghis Khan. For these “wanna be” leaders, tune into the Bronco-Patriot game this weekend. It will be a tough contest for Denver, but even if football doesn’t make sense, there is a lot to learn by watching #15.