Being a hospital leader is more difficult than ever in today’s changing healthcare environment. It can be easy to stray off course while dealing with regulatory compliance and financial constraints. It’s vital that a leader remembers he is responsible for one of the most precious and fragile elements of his organization: its culture. Here are five cultural truths to which hospital leaders must adhere to be effective.

1. You set the tone for your organization/department.

If you’re telling others about your employees doing a bad job, it is a direct reflection of your leadership. It can’t be overstated that leaders are directly responsible for employees’ work environments.

Instead of complaining about people being lazy, gossips, or drama queens, ask yourself what you can do to change the environment. The vast majority of people want to do a good job. Perhaps there are things blocking them from working toward their full potential. Be empowering, not demoralizing.

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