Leadership is a journey, not a destination. Being a leader in industries like healthcare and hospitality is not easy. As leaders we often find ourselves at crossroads, thinking whether to focus on influence or impact. My past experiences made me realise that the decision depends on the situation.

The Power of Influencing People

Leading a large crowd needs guts and the power to influence people. Effective healthcare leaders leverage a powerful combination of empathy, clear communication, and a future-oriented vision.

The success of a healthcare organisation highly depends on the leaders who can motivate their team to work together in pursuing the shared mission. It’s not about forcing control over people but reinforcing a shared sense of purpose. Controlling people takes time and effort, especially when they don’t naturally fit into your organisation’s vision.

What Are the Most Effective Ways to Create Impact?

An organisation needs to influence people to lead large groups, likewise, impact is crucial when you’re in a reputed role, especially in the hospitality industry. Great hospitality leaders understand the value of impactful decisions leading to exceptional guest experiences and operational success.

When a decision is made by the people in charge, they are expected to turn the organization's vision into reality. Which requires choosing the right decisions that have a solid impact on the organization’s success.

When you come across far, your objectives and monitoring system will lead you to your vision. You need to make sure that with every decision you strategically contribute to the overall goals of the organization.

Impactful decisions can be defined as those that bring measurable results and drive the organization forward proving to be the apt decisions you ever make.

Top Leadership Model to Inspire and Influence Your Team

From my own experience in hospital management and leadership, I’ve understood that the most effective leaders often strike a balance between influence and impact.

One proven example of this balanced approach is Microsoft’s “Model, Coach, and Care” framework. This model will make you understand the real meaning of being both an influencer and an impactful leader.

Model: Leaders must adopt the behaviour they wish to see in their team members. By setting a positive example, they can influence their team members to adopt similar attitudes and behaviours. This will lead to demonstrating commitment, integrity, and perfection in all actions they commit.

Coach: It involves guiding the team members to meet their true selves. It’s not just about giving instructions, but about mentoring, providing feedback, and constructing an environment where continuous learning and improvement are well appreciated. Through better coaching, leaders can achieve a profound impact on their team’s development and performance.

Care: Providing care for your team extends beyond professional interactions, rather it’s about showing genuine concern for their well-being. And understanding their personal and professional challenges, and supporting them through difficult times. When the employees feel cared for, engaged, and motivated they are more likely to work according to the organization’s vision and goals.

Leadership in Healthcare and Hospitality

In the healthcare industry, leadership models such as transformational and servant leadership models are prevalent. Healthcare leadership prioritizes patient care and team unity and leads to influence over control through empathy, adaptability, and clear communication.

Similarly, in the hospitality industry, what makes a great hospitality leader is the ability to blend influence and impact seamlessly. Leaders in the hospitality sector need to be visionary, setting a high standard for service while making impactful decisions that increase guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Why Not Both?

As a leader, you don’t have to choose between influence and impact, you can integrate both into your leadership style. By adopting the Model, Coach, and Care approach, you can create a leadership style that is both influential and impactful.

How does a clear vision impact leadership?

Every high-impact journey begins with setting a clear vision. This vision serves as the foundation upon which influence and impact are built. It provides direction and purpose, guiding the leader and the team towards a common goal.

Why is setting a clear vision important for success?

Once the vision is almost set, the next step is the process of implementation. This is where the role of impactful decisions comes alive. By making strategic decisions, setting clear objectives, and continuously monitoring progress, leaders can assume that their vision is realized effectively.

Benefits of having a shared vision within a team

Every high-impactful journey begins with setting a clear vision. This vision serves as the foundation upon which influence and impact are built. It provides direction and purpose, guiding the leader and the team towards a common goal.

Effective leadership in healthcare and hospitality requires an equal blend of influence and impact. By setting a clear vision and adopting the Model, Coach, and Care approach, leaders can inspire and motivate their teams to achieve exceptional results within their organization.

Emphasizing empathy, communication, and strategic decision-making cultivates a supportive and goal-oriented environment.

Balancing influence with impactful actions ensures high-quality patient care and exceptional guest experiences. Ultimately driving the organization forward with integrity and dedication.

Reflect on your leadership style. How do you currently balance influence and impact? Share your thoughts in the comments below!