Throughout the many years that VMG Health’s Elizabeth Monroe, COE, CPSS, PHR, and Maureen Waddle, MBA, have worked with eyecare practices and ASCs, they have heard one plea again and again: “I need help developing my team.”
Ms. Monroe said this came as no surprise. “Practices are growing, demands are increasing, and administrators are wearing too many hats,” she said.
To address this need, the consultants created their “Growing Your Midlevel Managers” presentation, part of the "Leadership, Ethics, and Professional Development" session offered at the 2025 AAO meeting.
The key to long-term success, they believe, is for practices to build up their midlevel managers. Their presentation was created to help practices identify future leaders, build a leadership training program, select impactful tools and resources, devise management opportunities, and offer tips on the best ways to support and reward growth.
Tips for identifying candidates for leadership positions, for example, include first articulating the skills required for the position to establish credibility and manage teams, and considering the emotional IQ that will help the candidate deal effectively with both staff and physicians.
Building a successful leadership training program requires several steps: the hiring managers must first evaluate learning styles, then formulate a mix of appropriate resources. These can include classroom instruction, online courses, books, and podcasts. Monroe and Waddle emphasized that action plans should outline a path for progression.
Practice leadership also has a valuable role to play in facilitating change with staff—especially when promoting from within. Monroe and Waddle also discussed incentivizing new managers: “Find out what motivates your managers, and ensure salary and compensation benefits match their workloads.”
“It’s not just about identifying future leaders; it’s about helping them grow into roles where they can truly make a difference,” Ms. Monroe said. “Our goal is to give attendees practical strategies they can take home and use right away. Leadership development doesn’t happen overnight, but with the right approach, you can build a team that supports your physicians, your patients, and each other.”