Being a business owner in the healthcare industry, especially as a woman in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) space, is a unique and challenging experience. Women still hold relatively rare leadership roles in this field, making the journey rewarding and complex.
I discovered a natural correlation between managing a family, including five children, and my responsibilities as a CEO. My leadership approach is grounded in clear delegation, fostering teamwork, offering constructive feedback, and maintaining a calm, attentive demeanor. These principles have helped me successfully navigate the demands of running a business while ensuring that my employees feel supported and empowered.
Delegation: Everyone Has a Role and Responsibility
In both parenting and business, I’ve found that delegation is mandatory. Running a family with five children means that everyone must contribute to keep the household functioning smoothly, and the same logic applies in the ASC. Each team member has a specific role and set of responsibilities, and it’s important that they understand their duties and take ownership of them.
When it comes to delegation, I treat my team like I treat my children. The older or more experienced employees guide the newer ones, just as my older children help the younger ones until they can manage independently. This approach ensures a supportive, learning-focused environment. In business, seasoned staff members mentor newer hires, helping them become confident and capable in their roles. This structure not only fosters teamwork but also creates a culture of continuous improvement, where everyone contributes to the success of the whole.
Empowerment Through Responsibility
I believe that giving responsibility is a way to empower team members. Just as I trust my children with tasks appropriate to their age and abilities, I entrust my team with responsibilities that match their skill sets. Empowering employees to make decisions, take initiative, and manage their tasks shows that I have faith in their abilities. This fosters a sense of ownership, boosting morale and productivity.
However, empowerment doesn’t mean a lack of oversight. While it is important to be available when guidance is needed, I encourage my employees to solve problems on their own when possible. Just as I allow my children to make mistakes and learn from them, I want my team to learn through experience. This builds resilience, confidence, and independence—traits that are invaluable in both life and business.
Constructive Criticism: The Key to Growth
Leadership isn’t just about assigning tasks and letting people be; it’s also about giving constructive feedback. In a household with five children, criticism without direction can lead to frustration and confusion, so I’ve learned to approach it with kindness and clarity. The same principle applies in business.
I offer criticism in a constructive, actionable, and forward-thinking way. Rather than focusing on what went wrong, I guide my team toward how they can improve and grow. It’s important to remember that criticism is not about “tearing someone down” but helping them improve at what they do. When employees understand that my feedback is meant to support their development, they’re more likely to take it positively and use it to improve their performance.
Listening: What’s Being Said—and What’s Not
As a leader, remaining calm and composed is essential, especially when challenges arise. Employees look to their leader for guidance, and maintaining a calm presence can help defuse tense situations. I’ve learned from motherhood that staying calm even in chaos creates a stable environment where everyone feels secure and capable of working through difficulties.
Listening is critical in leadership. But it’s not just about hearing what is being said—it’s also about being attuned to what is not being said. Sometimes, the most important feedback is the unspoken concern or the tension that lingers in a room after a meeting. By staying observant and empathetic, I can often sense when an employee is struggling or when there’s an underlying issue that needs addressing.
Balancing Compassion with Leadership
As a woman and a mother, I bring a sense of compassion and understanding to my leadership role. But that doesn’t mean I shy away from making tough decisions or enforcing accountability. Balancing empathy with the responsibility to lead is critical. Just as I set expectations and boundaries with my children to ensure they grow into responsible adults, I set clear expectations for my employees to ensure the business runs smoothly and effectively.
In conclusion, my leadership style is rooted in my experiences as a mother and a business owner. I delegate with trust, empower through responsibility, offer constructive feedback, and always remain calm and attentive to the needs of my team. By approaching leadership this way, I’ve been able to create a supportive, productive work environment where everyone feels valued and capable of contributing to the success of the ASC.
Neeraja Kikkeri co-founded and opened North Texas Team Care Surgery Center in Dallas with her husband Dr. Nagaraj Kikkeri. She is Chief Executive Officer of NTTC, which includes the Surgery Center, Advanced Pain Solutions, and Hinkapin Health.
