From Battlefields to Bedside: Lessons Healthcare Can Learn from Military Leadership

Highlights from this episode include:

Bobby’s background in the Marines and how it helped to shape how he leads
What makes change harder for some than others
How leaders can support their teams through change
What physician leaders can learn from leadership development in the Marine Corps

Change is challenging. In the healthcare industry, we constantly face unpredictability and change, and many of us (myself included) can find it challenging to navigate. So, why do some individuals struggle more than others, and how do we, as leaders, support our team through change?

In episode 26 of the Life, Love, and Leadership for Physicians podcast, we’re exploring the lessons that the healthcare industry can learn from military leadership.

Bobby Harrington founded the Rubicon Course of Action (COA) Leadership Development company, specializing in coaching and performance programs and immersive leadership development events. He’s practiced leadership and coaching in sports, martial arts, the military, private business, and a Fortune 100 oil and gas company. Bobby’s work focuses on people in executive leadership, team building and design, and technical innovation for growth.

What is the difference between those who can adapt to change and those who can’t?

Bobby’s first lesson with change was at boot camp for the Marines. He noticed that people with resiliency or those that have gone through hardships were far more likely to finish boot camp successfully.

“Those who have built resilience will automatically go to exploration and say, ‘Okay, the change is here. I can’t do anything about it, so let me explore the possibilities and make an honest effort to integrate that change and just move forward.”

How do we lead others through change who are struggling?

“The root of change management or leading through change is transparency and engagement.”

Trust is vital to a successful team. The more we can share as leaders and engage our team, the more community we can create around that change and the more trust we can build.

“When leading a large change effort as a leader, your character and competence are always on display.”

People trust someone because they have good character, do something great, or both. In these significant change efforts as a leader, you must display exemplary character and competence to continue building on that trust.

So, what lessons can we learn from the Marine Corps?

There’s a lot that the healthcare industry can take from leadership development in the military. Listen and learn more in episode 26 of the Life, Love, and Leadership for Physicians podcast.

Mentioned Resources:

Grab a copy of Bobby’s book, Lead You: The Winning Combination to Achieve Personal and Professional Success

Other books mentioned: On Death and Dying by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Connect with Bobby Harrington

Connect with Dr. Rachel:

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