RelayBehavioral health managers have a critical role to play. They must be masters at clinical practice, while also understanding what it means to be an effective leader. If you’re in behavioral health management, or you’re considering such a role, it’s essential to learn the qualities of a strong manager. We’ll discuss these in detail below.
Effective Communication Skills
Strong, assertive communication skills have been identified as essential for healthcare practitioners, which includes those in the behavioral health arena. Managers must be prepared to communicate with employees about policies, procedures, and critical issues as they arise. Both oral and written communication skills are important, as managers are likely to communicate during face-to-face meetings, as well as through modalities such as email.
Knowledge of Evidence-Based Practices
Behavioral health managers must be informed of evidence-based practices. As healthcare grows increasingly expensive, stakeholders demand that practitioners utilize treatments that have demonstrated effectiveness in empirical research. As a behavioral health manager, you will be called upon to provide training on evidence-based practices, and you’ll be expected to ensure that your employees are using evidence-based practices in patient care.
Willingness to Support Employee Wellbeing
It’s no secret that working in the behavioral health field comes with challenges. Frontline practitioners can find their work to be quite rewarding, but the reality is that it can also be demanding. Research suggests that almost half of behavioral health workers are overburdened by the demands of their jobs, which makes it essential for managers to support employee wellbeing. Managers should encourage employees to engage in self-care and practice work-life balance to promote wellbeing and prevent burnout. It can also be helpful for behavioral health managers to work with the human resources departments in their respective organizations to offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which can offer counseling and other resources to employees who are overburdened by job demands.
Cross-Cultural Competence
Cultural competence is central to quality behavioral healthcare. As our population grows increasingly diverse, mental health practitioners must be prepared to provide services that are sensitive to patients’ cultural needs. As a behavioral health manager, you’ll be expected to supervise clinicians and assist them with implementing culturally-sensitive practices. You’ll also be expected to model cross-cultural competency for employees. Furthermore, as the workforce evolves to reflect the cultural diversity of larger society, you will need to develop skills for engaging with employees whose cultural backgrounds differ from your own.
Organization Skills
Finally, behavioral health managers must have strong organizational skills. Working in behavioral health management requires one to balance many duties, which include but are not limited to supervising and training staff, developing budgets, creating and implementing policies and procedures, securing funding, and communicating with staff and stakeholders. Organization skills are essential for managing time, meeting deadlines, and juggling the numerous duties that come with this role.
Empathy for Your Employees
As a behavioral health manager, your plate will be full. Not only will you be required to mentor and supervise your employees; you’ll also be expected to meet the demands of stakeholders, establish and maintain policies and procedures, secure funding, maintain a budget, and comply with regulations related to behavioral health practice. In the midst of your numerous obligations, it can be easy to forget what it’s like to be a frontline mental health professional. As you juggle your duties, remember to maintain empathy for your employees. Consider the challenges they’re facing, and approach your work with them with a degree of compassion and understanding. Your employees will relate to you better, and perform better, when they feel you have their best interests at heart.
Commitment to Personal Wellness
Just as self-care is essential for frontline behavioral health staff, it’s also critical to the success of a behavioral health manager. The role is rewarding, but it can certainly be demanding. If you want to perform your best, and be there for your employees, regular self-care is critical. This means taking time for rest, relaxation, and personal hobbies. You won’t have the stamina required to perform in your role if you’re run down from burning the candle at both ends. Committing to your own wellness means you’re also setting a positive example for your employees.
Strong Clinical Skills
Managing a behavioral health agency typically means taking a step away from direct, clinical practice. You might think you’ll never use your clinical skills again, but even if you never again deliver a therapy session, you need to keep your clinical skills in tact. You’ll serve as a role model for your employees, and you must also be prepared to offer clinical supervision. You may even be called upon to train employees in best clinical practices. It’s difficult to lead a clinical team if you don’t also have solid clinical skills yourself. It can be helpful to continue to attend trainings and seminars on clinical practices to maintain strong skills.
The Bottom Line
Behavioral health management requires a specific skill set; however, the good news is that the qualities required for this role can be cultivated over time. With practice, dedication, and support, it is possible to learn the role of a behavioral health manager, and excel in this type of position.
If you’re new to this role, it can be helpful to seek support and mentorship from a seasoned behavioral health manager as you learn the ropes. Alternatively, if you’re looking to advance to a career in management, it can be beneficial to take time to intentionally cultivate the skills described herein. Engage in some honest self-reflection to identify areas where you have room for growth, and seek out training and mentorship in these areas.
