Why Influence Matters More Than Authority
Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S., didn’t wait for permission to lead. She became leadership through action, not title. In healthcare, you don’t need to be a department chair or a hospital CEO to shape the future.
Leadership starts the moment you walk into the room—and people start following your example.
S – Situation:
Maybe you don’t have an official leadership title—and maybe you don’t even want one.
That’s fine. You’re still leading. Every physician sets a tone, whether they intend to or not.
H – Habits:
Many physicians fall into the “I’m just here to treat patients” habit.
Leadership? That’s someone else’s job.
This habit keeps good doctors from becoming great agents of change.
I – Insights:
Leadership is about influence, not authority.
William Osler—often called the “Father of Modern Medicine”—believed bedside manner mattered as much as diagnosis.
In today’s world, bedside leadership matters too: How you treat staff, how you speak up in meetings, how you model empathy and precision.
F – Formulation:
Start seeing yourself as an influencer in scrubs.
When you choose clarity over cynicism, gratitude over grumbling, and curiosity over criticism—you’re leading.
Own it.
T – Transformation:
You don’t need a title to change a culture.
When you show up fully—present, engaged, courageous—you invite others to do the same.
Your influence can heal more than patients. It can heal teams.
Take Action
Today, notice where your influence lands:
- How does your mood set the tone for a consult or handoff?
- Where could your listening improve a conversation—or even a patient’s outcome?
Leading without a title is real leadership. It’s what the best physicians have always done.
