You are the Mirror: Leading by Example

In the world of healthcare administration, your title might say “Administrator,” but your influence stretches far beyond policies, regulations, and staff meetings. Every day, your team is watching how you lead—not just by what you say, but what you do.

And the truth is your staff will often mirror and reflect your example back to you. The culture of your facility begins with you.

Eyes Are Always On You

Whether you realize it or not, your staff notices how you handle challenges—both big and small.

Do you rush past residents in the hallway without a smile, or do you stop to greet them warmly? Do you respond to a last-minute schedule change with panic, or do you attempt to calmly problem solve?

These day-to-day moments might feel routine to you, but they send powerful signals to your team. How you show up to situations, manage stress, and respond under pressure creates the unspoken standard your staff will follow (and even mirror back over time). 

Your Actions Speak Louder Than Paperwork + Policies

Yes…Policies matter—but they don’t create a culture on their own. People look to you as their leader to see if the policies actually mean something.

To start, if you emphasize punctuality but arrive late to meetings, your staff certainly notices. If you talk about open communication but never make yourself approachable, your  team will learn that silence is safer. Communication is imperative and the lack thereof leaves uncertainty and creates distance towards working together for a common goal.

When your words and your actions line up, you gain credibility. And when they don’t, trust is lost. Leading by example means living the standards you expect from others.

Modeling Professionalism and Compassion

Every administrator knows the tension of enforcing rules while still showing empathy. The way you navigate that balance teaches your staff how to do the same.

When you correct a mistake with frustration, your staff will learn to fear failure.  This also creates unnecessary anxiety amongst your staff members. Approach it as a learning opportunity to grow and improve upon.  

Likewise, every time you mirror care and compassion to a struggling resident, your staff will understand that healthcare is not just about compliance—it’s about dignity.

Your actions are the clearest textbook your staff will ever read.

Creating a Culture of Accountability

Leadership is not about being perfect—it’s about being real. When you admit mistakes, your staff feel permission to own theirs, too.

This creates a culture of accountability, where people are not afraid to speak up, take responsibility, and improve. On the other hand, if mistakes are hidden or punished harshly, staff may start covering up issues rather than fixing them.  This leads to a toxic culture.

Transparency starts at the top. Accountability flows downward.

Habits Are Contagious

Think about the habits you live out every day. Are you organized, punctual, and steady under pressure? Or frazzled, rushed, and reactive?

Your staff absorb your habits—good or bad. When you model energy management, self-care, and focus, you give your team permission to do the same. And when they’re healthier, calmer, and more grounded, your residents benefit too.

As John Maxwell famously said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

You are the Mirror…the tone setter…the difference-maker!

At the end of the day, leadership in healthcare administration isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.

The tone you set, the way you handle challenges, and the example you model will ripple through your staff, your residents, and your facility as a whole.

"Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny,"--- Lao Tzu

Remember: the culture you want begins with you.

Lead with resilience. Lead with heart. Lead by example—and watch how your staff rises to meet you.

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- The UCampus Group
www.UCampusGroup.com