Clinical Leadership and Group Practice Are Not For Everyone.
I want you to take a second to go back to the beginning. Think back to when you first started your road in mental health. What was your vision for your career? Have you been pressured to pursue certain trajectories for your career just because they are considered the “best” way to succeed? In today's business culture, there is a large push to always be expanding, striving for the next big step, and growing our businesses. And most mental health practitioners are told, in one way or another, that the next step after solo practice is to start your own group practice and step into clinical leadership. Which just isn’t true.
It may be a little bit of a hot take, but clinical leadership is absolutely not for everyone. Some of us are not cut out for it, and that’s okay! Mental health practice comes in many forms for a reason. Each mode has pros and cons and they will vary for each practitioner. You need to determine your own path and which direction is best suited for you and your practice style. Client care at a group practice will only be as effective as the leadership present. It is your responsibility to be honest with yourself about whether or not you are up to the task.
What Makes a Great Leader?
Before you can figure out if leadership is right for you, we need to establish some basics of what characteristics make a great leader:
Effective Communicator: Can you articulate your vision clearly and inspire others to action?
Sets Direction and Planning: Are you able to develop strategic plans and lead your team towards common goals?
Clinical Competency: Do you possess the clinical expertise necessary to guide and support your team?
Integrity and Honesty: Are you known for your ethical conduct and transparency?
Approachable: Do you create a welcoming and supportive environment for your team?
Role Model: Are you a source of inspiration and guidance for others in the practice?
Coping with Change: Can you adapt to evolving circumstances and navigate challenges with resilience?
Supportive: Do you prioritize the well-being and professional development of your team members?
Mentorship: Are you committed to fostering the growth and success of emerging clinicians?
Decision-Maker: Can you make informed decisions that benefit both your team and your clients?
These are the bare bones basics of an effective leader. Do you feel you fit this description? Amazing! That’s just the beginning. While the qualities listed above are essential for effective clinical leadership, it's also important to be mindful of potential barriers that may hinder your leadership journey.
These barriers include:
Lack of time and high clinical demand
Bureaucracy and red tape
Limited opportunities for advancement
Constraints on funding and resources
Lack of access to mentorship and training
Part-time work and limited support structures
Confidence issues and resistance to change
Feelings of isolation and burnout
Bullying and lack of support from managers
Inadequate support for innovation and creativity
Micromanagement and restrictive leadership styles
Ask Yourself:
Again, it is important to be incredibly honest with yourself while you mull over these lists. Here are some questions to help you out:
Do any of these barriers apply to you? What work have you done to help mitigate these barriers?
How do you hold your power?
Are you comfortable managing conflict and holding your team members accountable?
Are you capable of balancing leadership of individuals on your team with overall leadership of a group?
Do you enjoy creating and maintaining an overall vision of an organization or group practice?
If these leadership skills and traits do not currently apply to you, are you willing and capable of learning them through training?
I’m aware some of these questions are a little more nebulous than others, but they are a great starting point for whether or not clinical leadership is for you. If you can't manage conflict or hold people accountable, clinical leadership or supervision are not for you. You may be a great supervisor, but if you find yourself bristling against the idea of managing overarching leadership goals, then that step into clinical leadership may not be for you. And once again, it is okay if it’s not! Solo practice is best for some of us, clinical supervision is best for others, and still others are suited to clinical leadership.
Best to Stay Solo?
While not everyone may find group practice appealing, solo practitioners have ample opportunities to flourish and expand their income streams.
You can host workshops and training sessions to share your expertise through one-time offerings or ongoing classes. Or offer your consultation services to fellow mental health professionals, organizations, or businesses about clinical practice, business development, marketing strategies, and whatever other expertise you wish to share with other professionals. Additionally you can monetize content you are likely already creating. Be it blogs, podcast, or online courses, sharing content allows practitioners to share valuable insights and resources and can provide a boost in income.
Diversifying income as a solo practitioner demands creativity, innovation, and a willingness to explore new avenues. By leveraging unique skills and expertise, practitioners can establish multiple income streams, enhancing professional growth and financial stability.
Becoming a Leader.
Now that I’ve probably scared some of you into thinking you can never be a clinical leader, let me back pedal a little. Most of us aren’t born with innate leadership skills. They must be cultivated and trained, like any muscle. The most important question I asked you to ask yourself is “If these leadership skills and traits do not currently apply to you, are you willing and capable of learning them through training?” And it is the most important question to be honest with yourself about. Learning leadership skills can be hard, but even if you end up not stepping into leadership, the skills you learn could serve you in any form of practice you choose to follow.
If you are wanting to step into your inner leader, join me on June 28th, 2024 on Zoom, for “Advanced Approaches in Clinical Supervision: Cultivating the Leader Within for Effective Guidance and Support” where we will explore the intersections of clinical supervision and leadership, to help you harness the skills you need to be a leader.
So, are you ready to cultivate your leader within?
In your corner,
Francisca
Sources:
NHS Leadership Academy. (2011). Clinical Leadership Competency Framework. https://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/wp
Stanley, D, Blanchard, D, Hohol, A, Hutton, A, & McDonald, A | Albert Lee (Reviewing Editor) (2017) Health professionals’ perceptions of clinical
leadership. A pilot study, Cogent Medicine, 4:1, DOI: 10.1080/2331205X.2017.1321193
Solange M. & Voce, A.S. (2017) Conceptualizations of clinical leadership: a review of the literature, Journal of Healthcare Leadership, (9), 79-87, DOI:
10.2147/JHL.S143639
Embark on a transformative journey with Francisca Mix, LPC, BC-DMT, ACS—an experienced confidence consultant in mental health and clinical leadership. With diverse expertise as a mental health private practice consultant, educator, clinical supervisor, and trauma-informed movement therapist, Francisca guides professionals through tailored group programs and impactful one-to-one online sessions.
Her mission is clear—to empower individuals in mental health and clinical leadership by building unshakable confidence, nurturing leadership skills, and rewriting healthy life narratives. Your transformation begins here.
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