Are You Sabotaging Your Leadership Without Knowing It?
Have you ever found yourself so convinced of your approach that you've shut down all other viewpoints? If so, you're not alone. Today, I want to share a powerful lesson about leadership that might just transform how you run your practice.
When Expertise Becomes a Barrier
Samantha was thrilled about her promotion to Chief Operations Officer at a multi-office O&P facility. After five years as an office manager, where she'd earned the title of "resident expert" in clinical process management, this new role expanded her responsibilities to include cost control and billing across multiple locations.
But the excitement quickly gave way to anxiety. "With a few exceptions, I find most of my new team difficult to work with," she confided. "They don't understand the efficiencies we need to achieve, and the Accounts Receivable seem out of whack. We have an aggressive goal to meet, and I don't need this resistance."
When I joined Samantha for a team meeting, the issue became crystal clear. While she excelled in process management, her billing and admin teams raised valid concerns about her Revenue Cycle plan that she hadn't considered. Rather than engaging with these perspectives, she repeatedly shut down discussion. Samantha had fallen victim to "the Singular Story" – a concept coined by coach Sabrina Nawaz in her book “You're the Boss, Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)."
The Danger of the Singular Story
We've all seen it happen: leaders who become so attached to their way of thinking that they resist any counter perspective. This attachment creates a defensive posture that stifles creativity and innovation – absolute kryptonite in our competitive healthcare landscape.
When you're stuck in a Singular Story, three telltale signs typically emerge:
You feel defensive or righteous when challenged, sometimes experiencing physical tension in your throat or chest
You lose curiosity about others' perspectives, valuing only those who agree with you
Your team responds with silence – not because they agree, but because they've learned you won't listen
For Samantha, her Singular Story was deeply tied to her identity. "It feels like the time I've spent developing knowledge of process was minimized by their challenges," she admitted. She interpreted challenges to her ideas as challenges to her expertise and, by extension, to her very self.
Breaking Free from Your Singular Story
If you recognize yourself in Samantha's situation, here's how you can loosen your grip on your Singular Story:
Step 1: Identify Your Discomfort
When team members challenge your ideas, lean into your discomfort. Ask yourself: Am I afraid my ideas aren't relevant? Am I worried my experience isn't valued? Does this feel like insubordination? Write these feelings down – this old-school method activates important memory centers in your brain.
Step 2: Practice Multiple Meanings
Consider alternative, positive interpretations of why your team might challenge you:
They're invested in the practice's success
They respect you enough to speak up when they see potential issues
They have valuable information that could improve outcomes
Step 3: Experiment with New Approaches
At your next team meeting, try reframing your approach with questions like:
"What things do we need to change to achieve success?"
"What do you think I've gotten right about our approach? Where might we need to shift emphasis?"
"What new information do you have that might improve our outcomes?"
The Transformation
When you release your attachment to a Singular Story, something remarkable happens. The defensiveness dissolves, replaced by a culture of healthy curiosity and debate. Your team begins working with you rather than around you, combining their expertise with yours to deliver exceptional results.
In today's complex healthcare environment, no single perspective – not even that of the most experienced practitioner – can address every challenge. By embracing multiple viewpoints, you'll not only make better decisions but also build a more engaged, innovative team ready to tackle whatever comes your way.
What Singular Story might you be holding onto in your practice? I'd love to hear your thoughts.