How to be a Good Boss and Navigate a Bad One

Stimulus | Helping Doctors overcome burnout, excel in leadership, and unlock their most fulfilling careers

It’s hard to be a good boss and even harder to work under a bad one. This episode breaks down how to begin as a new leader with little to no experience, the critical errors leaders often make, and what to do when your boss is suboptimal. We explore how quick fixes, lack of empathy, and poor communication can alienate teams and stifle growth. Leaders who ignore the importance of relationships, skip proper onboarding, or impose their own agendas without collaboration set themselves up for failure. We also discuss how future writing can help leaders clarify their vision and avoid these pitfalls. Finally, we offer strategies to recognize and correct these missteps, creating a more effective and cohesive leadership style.

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Guest Bio: Karl Pister is president and founder of The Coaching Group, with over 34 years of experience in executive coaching, conflict management, and leadership development. He’s also the host of the Healthcare Leadership Podcast, which focuses on leadership, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence.

We Discuss:

• The Practice of Future Writing
• The Logic Behind Future Writing
• Daily Writing Routine and Its Impact
• Premeditation Malorum | Best vs. Worst Case Scenario Visualization
• Maladaptive vs. Adaptive Perfectionism
• What Daily Future Writing Looks Like—Doesn’t It Get Repetitive?
• Write for the Future in the Present Tense
• How to Be a Successful New Leader With an Underperforming Team
• Tom Peters' Top 5 of Excellent Leadership
• Your Team Knows What Action Needs To Happen
• How Do You Know When You Have Enough Information To Start Taking Action?
• Identify Your Influencers
• Handling Someone Else’s Emergencies as a New Leader
• Day One as a New Physician Leader, You’re Prodded From Multiple Sides About a Pressing Issue. What Do You Do?
• Dealing with Difficult Bosses
• Building Positive Relationships With a Bad Leader
• A Bad Leader Is Often Insecure. Becoming an Asset to Them Rather Than an Opponent Can Make Your Job a Lot Better

Books mentioned in this episode:

• The Inner Game of Tennis by Tim Galloway
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner
• What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
• Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury
• Possible by William Ury
• Negotiating the Non-Negotiable by Daniel Shapiro
• The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Updated and Expanded by Michael D. Watkins

Mentioned in this episode:

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