Leading with upper brain: The mindset transformations of highly effective leaders

Abstract

Today’s healthcare organisations face serious challenges both within themselves and in the outside environment, from labour shortages, increased regulatory pressures and financial headwinds to the austerity from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and insurance companies as well as heightened competition in an increasingly monopolised market. While the issues are enormous, the solutions are within reach, and we have immensely capable and technically skilled leaders to do this work. What is becoming obviously missing, however, is not the technical and intellectual knowledge but the emotional and mindset skills for highly effective and transformative leadership. What is crucial to success is building strong and engaged organisational cultures as well as effectively negotiating with stakeholders, both of which require specific leadership behaviours and mindsets. This set of optimal behaviours are termed ‘upper brain behaviours’, which are geared towards collaboration and characterised by high emotional intelligence (EI), emotional maturity, collaborative mindset, commitment to inner and organisational purpose and mission and a strong ability to value people and interpersonal connections. While these behaviours are the ultimate pursuit of most people who seek self-improvement and growth, and this journey is never truly completed, we would like to describe the mindset transformations that we believe all leaders need to undertake in order to become highly effective in their work and consistently exhibit behaviours that lead to transformational leadership outcomes. This process is not only within reach and completely attainable but urgently needed in healthcare today.