Macon Magazine

ADVERTISEMENT William F. Bina, III, MD, MPH Macon, Georgia 31201 DEAN, MERCER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FAMILY MEDICINE PRACTITIONER, MERCER MEDICINE Mercer University School of Medicine 1550 College Street Macon, GA 31207 When you were younger, were you in leadership roles? I am a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, so leadership roles began early for me. Assigned to a nuclear submarine, I had duties as a Division Officer and Department Head, which meant I was responsible for leading and supervising others in the maintenance and operation of various components of the ship. Leadership duties and associated responsibilities progressed along with my career in both the Navy and in the field of academic medicine. What is your approach to leadership today? Leadership to me is built upon communication, clarity of goals, administrative support, respect, and a hands-off approach with frequent progress updates. What are the 3 most important qualities of a good leader? For me, the three most important qualities that make a good leader are, 1) the ability to listen; 2) a willingness to make decisions with the best information possible, but not to tarry in obtaining every last detail; and, 3) trust others to do what they say they will do, while at the same time verifying their progress with frequent updates. In your opinion, what is the single biggest mistake a leader can make? The single biggest mistake a leader can make is to make decisions without listening to all sides of the question. What do you look for and how do you hire good people? When hiring for the School of Medicine or Mercer Medicine, I look for a personal history of service to others, an overall positive attitude in the individual, their willingness to learn new things, and, of course, their past work history and professional references supporting a team-based work ethic. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013 MACON MAGAZINE I 61

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