Leadership & Service in Athletic Training

Leadership & Service in Athletic Training Eric M. Streeter MS, ATC

Leadership and the Six Domains What does leadership mean to the athletic trainer in his/her daily life.

Domain I - Prevention • Lightning Safety • Heat Illness Prevention • Establish yourself as a resource

Domain II – Clinical Evaluation & Diagnosis • Will the patient seek your assistance? • Establish yourself as a health care leader

Domain III – Immediate Care • Executing an EAP • Patient advocacy • Facilitating effective referrals • Establish yourself as a leader in the situation

Domain IV – Treatment, Rehabilitation, and Reconditioning • The “buy-in” • Patient education • Shared goals • Establishing yourself as the leader

Domain V – Organization & Administration • Establishing action plans • Establishing policies & procedures • Developing professional relationships • Establish yourself as a resource

Domain VI – Professional Responsibility • Educate about the roles and standards of practice of the athletic trainer.

Question… How does one establish herself as a health care leader?

Concepts in Leadership What does it mean to be a leader?

Definitions • Leadership – the ability and the willingness to influence others so that they respond willingly • Manipulation – getting people to do what you want them to do without them agreeing to or knowing what you are doing **Leadership is different than manipulation and different than exercising power

The Leadership Point of View • Seeing what needs to be done • Understanding the underlying forces at play in the situation • Initiating action to make things better

Leadership Skills • Creating a vision • Garnering Commitment • Managing progress toward the vision

Clawson’s Levels of Leadership • Level One Leadership – Focuses only on behavior and ignores two major sources of motivation for most people: 1) What they think and 2) what they believe and feel. • Level Three Leadership – That is aware of and influences people’s values and basic assumptions has the potential of being far more powerful than level one.

Assumptions of the Information Age/Revolution • Creating new organizational forms that are flatter; more dependent on fast, accurate information; demand more participation from all members; and must respond more quickly than ever before. • Change – most organizations have a lot of room for growth. ***Change is the only constant…

Key Elements in Leadership Some commonalities among leaders…

Passion How can you expect others to care, if you don’t care?

Passion “ Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won’t buy you the wag of its tail.” -Josh Billings

Passion “They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” -Carl W. Buechner

Passion “Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart into it, take yourself out of it.” -Unknown

Trust Joe Torre describing the circumstances under which he left the Yankees.

Trust A list versus B list

Coaching • The coach observes to understand, and only after understanding is he able to criticize. The intent of any criticism is to help the person improve. • The coach reflects before acting and encourages the individual he is coaching to do the same. • Focus on the long term, not the immediate task. • Coaching requires regular meetings. • Speak in terms of I, not you. • Sandwiching negative feedback between two positive messages softens the blow. • Separate Coaching from the formal review process.

Coaching Techniques • Practice active listening • Support learning through action and reflection • Move from easy to hard • Set microgoals • Use tape delay • Set up relationship repair meetings • Encourage more positive feedback

Relationships • People are wonderful • Reach out to your colleagues • Reach out to your communities • You have a lot to offer • Never take a relationship for granted • The end result is greater than the sum of its parts

Reflection “By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest, second by imitation, which is easiest, and third, by experience, which is most bitter.” -Confucious

Reflection “It is only after time has been given for cool and deliberate reflection that the real voice of the people can be known.” -George Washington

Reflection “Having done all of that, go for a walk (preferably by yourself) knowing that when you get back, you will sit down to write the nectar that you have extracted from this part.” -MoheyMowafy

Discipline The needed skills to grow and develop discipline: • Assumption of Responsibility • Dedication to truth • Delaying gratification • Balancing The Road Less Traveled –M. Scott Peck

Results “When the effective leader is finished with his work, the people say it happened naturally.” -Lao Tse

Service in Athletic Training Where do YOU fit in?

Streeter’s Model of Service

Service to Self/Family • You are the most important person in your life • One can only begin to serve others if the self is taken care of • Health • Hobbies • Spirituality • Family

Service to Employer/Organization • Shared beliefs/mission with the organization • Shared values mean common goals • Strive to improve each organization of which you are a part

Service to Professional Organizations • Support to increase the body of knowledge • Support continuing education events • Support for various work settings • Educating others on the role of the athletic trainer • Establishing the athletic trainer as the leader in athletic health care • Improving the legislative environment • Collaborating with other organizations to achieve greater results • All of this requires LOTS of volunteers!

How to get involved… • Find your passion • Start local/Start small • Ask how you can help • Do something…you have a lot to offer!

StarTRACKS through the NATA Search StarTRACKS at www.NATA.org

StarTRACKS Leadership Development Program • Self Study Program – Two year expectation • Four Content Areas • Leadership • Management • Guiding the Profession • Strategic Thinking

StarTRACKS Leadership Development Program • Open to any NATA member! • Most books are available at your local library • Content beneficial to all • Benefits in your personal life, your professional life, your association life, and your community engagement

GLATA Funded Scholars • Two $350 scholarships per year to help offset the costs associated with the program • In return, scholars must agree to: • To seek and attain a leadership position in their State or District Association OR • present a topic on Leadership to their respective State Association. • AND • present a second topic on Leadership to the GLATA during the Annual Winter Meeting and Symposium. • Attend the biannual BOC Regulatory Conference. • Attend the Annual State Leadership Forum at the NATA Annual Meeting

GLATA Funded Scholars • Applications available from District Director Mark Gibson • Deadline for applications is April 1st • Check out the curriculum and consider applying for funding

Thanks to Kevin Gerlach, Chris Schommer, Kari Odland, John Powell, and the Local Planning Committee For their “service” and their “leadership”…

Thanks to Mark Gibson, Julie Rochester, and the GLATA Membership For supporting the StarTRACKS Leadership Scholars Program…

Leadership & Service in Athletic Training