A good woman decides to become a boss!!

This note from a nurse-midwife who decided to become a manager made our week. When a really good person decides to become a manager, the world becomes a better place. It’s not only managerial leverage, it’s good person leverage!

Hi Kim and Russ,

I am a nurse-midwife who long ago chose to “move up the ladder” in health care by becoming a clinician rather than going into management.  Well, soon it will be my turn to join management as first the assistant chief, then the chief of the midwifery service where I work.

Everyone at work thinks I will be great at managing, but I secretly suspect they are wrong!  I have lived my life trying to make people like me (and I’m good enough at it to make them want to promote me to leadership!). However, when I have been put in a leadership position in the past, I have become a control freak who doesn’t want conflict–what a miserable combination!

Anyway, I heard about your podcast on Gretchen Rubin’s Happier podcast, and I have started to listen to it and you are giving me hope that I will be able to do this.  I especially appreciate the perspective that criticism is helpful and necessary for the person to succeed.  Using praise as a tool for success rather than to make someone happier (and like me) is another great reminder for me.

I have a student midwife under me and I have been practicing on her–I gave her very thoughtful and true praise last night and it brought tears to her eyes–in a good way!  I have been giving her criticism as close to the moment as possible, in a direct, non-apologetic and positive way, which is also working.

So, thank you both.  I think your podcast (and I probably need  to read Kim’s book too!), will help my team be more successful in the years ahead.

Sincerely,
N