12 Leadership Lessons from Santa Claus

From the December 2012 edition of the eSSENTIALs Newsletter-

1. Santa is generous and persistent. Santa finds a way whether there is a chimney or not. If you are at Grandma’s house or at your own home, he doesn’t let you down. The presents are there.

2. Santa has a Checklist. Leaders need their own checklist AND they need to guide every team member to have an essentials checklist for each day. This ensures that nothing gets left to chance or to side tracked minds.

3. Santa has a wonderful workshop to make those fabulous toys. Leaders know that their facility reflects on their quality. If you have not repainted, redone your carpet or upholstery in the last five to seven years, you are overdue. If patients are not making positive comments about your facility, it’s time to refresh or redecorate!

4. Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice. Leaders need to know who is naughty and who is nice. Leaders can often overlook what doesn’t bother them directly and, therefore, they ignore staff behavior that needs to be addressed. Dentists and office managers too often postpone feedback that may move staff into alignment with their duties and the expected behavior protocols. Through fear of the person quitting (sometimes not a bad thing) or “crying” (God forbid), they leave things alone and the “nice” staff begin to take on an apathetic attitude. Those who are NICE are often neglected. Specific PRAISE (not generic) of NICE team members is an imperative for a good leader.

5. Santa’s “Ho, Ho, Ho” attitude is one that every leader needs. Staff will “take on” the down, the dour, the “economy stinks,” that political party “stinks,” and yadah, yadah, yadah. It is up to Santa to stay jolly and it is up to the leader to be positive in attitude about the patients, the day and the practice economy no matter WHAT! Good attitudes are catching.

6. Santa found the strength in the “teased” Rudolph. Good leaders find the strengths in their team members and create an environment for those strengths to shine like Rudolf’s nose!

7. Santa keeps his promise of on time delivery. Leaders need to keep their word with their staff. If a review is promised at a certain time, deliver on time. If a raise is promised at a particular time, deliver on time (or have a conference to discuss why not). Santa kept his word with no excuses and no delays – no matter the snow storm!

8. Santa believes in teamwork. He has elves and reindeer to help him get the job done. He does not think he can do it better himself. When dentists or office mangers take on a job that their staff can do, the team suffers. If you do someone else’s job long enough, they abdicate that responsibility to you and you deny the team member the ability to develop his/her own competence.

9. Santa is a light hearted, jolly ole guy. He takes his job seriously down to the details, but he is light hearted in his approach. Leaders like Santa know that team members like a jolly atmosphere, not one that is TOO serious or too obsessed with micro management.

10.Santa is always in a beautiful uniform. Leaders know that appearances are great visual impressions of quality. The leader sets the pace with professional attire that fits their professional status. Good leaders help the staff present a professional appearance with enforced dress codes, guidelines and parameters. Business staff in business clothes, clinical staff in OSHA appropriate attire. Dentists in proper “DR” attire and not looking like a staff member. Santa did not dress like an elf!

11.Santa’s a GOOD guy. Leaders know that the team is ALWAYS watching them. BE above reproach in all endeavors. Act with integrity. Do not flaunt your new home, new car or your child’s trip to Europe and then tell the staff there are no Christmas bonuses. WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM??

12.Santa practices universal acceptance and love. Santa has presents for everyone. His acceptance of all helps him be an enviable leader. He is generous to all.

Enjoy a wonderful Holiday season with your team, your family and friends. And remember-

You can be a great leader just like

Santa Claus.

A downloadable color version of this eSSENTIALs newsletter is attached-