Mr. Panaite's hands

On May 19, 2010, in Successful leadership, by Neculai Fantanaru

A leader without good hands cannot ensure the full success of his missions.

I could never forget the day I met Mr. Panaite, a middle-aged doctor whose great power, that of practicing the profession of surgeon, brought him great success; a doctor gifted with a bunch of brilliant qualities and merits who has never failed in any surgery; a doctor who, from what I could see, has always anticipated and avoided trouble.

I talked to him for more than an hour, during which he shared with me some interesting things concerning the profession of surgeon he practiced for over more than ten years. He therefore emphasized the importance of his “hands”, so precious to a surgeon during an operation.

A risky profession

I listened to Dr. Panaite with great interest, and he told me in detail things I did not know. He told me:

- Nicu, my job is wonderful, but full of risks. Every time I enter a surgery, a terrible fear tortures me: lest my patient dies on the operating table. I am also entitled to fear something else: lest the patient's family ask me moral damages, or worse, sue me for negligence and irresponsibility. The simple thought that this might happen to me arises a strange feeling of horror, fear, which few really experienced. This feeling makes all kinds of thoughts occurring to me, thoughts that can lead a weak man into a boundless despair. Surgery is a dangerous thing. Nicu, its success depends not only on the surgeon, but it also lies  in the hands of the entire team.

The precious hands of the surgeon

Mr. Panaite explained to me very clearly:

- In case of a surgery, the team that scrubs into the operation consists of several specialists carefully selected by the “team leader”, or term known in medical language as “first hand”. He first chooses a reliable help, represented by “second hand”. Both surgeons must form a perfect team during the surgical intervention and they are assisted, but they must cooperate equally with the other team members: the anesthesiologist and the nurses from the operating room, each of them having precisely defined roles. All of them must also have a good self-control, but also a high ability to react quickly.

- These teams, he said to me, usually form in time, after the team members get to know each other. A newcomer, a younger surgeon, is only received as “third hand”. And only after he proves that he can integrate into the team, that he is compatible in regards tp personality and, of course, professionalism, he becomes “second hand”. The success of the team and implicitly the favorable resolution of the surgical case depends on the perfect cooperation inside the team, the timing of its members, their professionalism, but also very important is the psychological compatibility between them.

I listened to Mr. Panaite with the patience of a friend, and I must confess that I greatly enjoyed the fact that he shared with me many of the secrets lying in its profession. And the tone and the warmth he spoke to me with made me understand that he treated his patients with a devotion few doctors are able to display, because most are dishonest with their patients and they only tend for their own interest. Mr. Panaite was, with no doubt, a consummate master of his art and profession, an example worthy of being followed by us all.

A leader without good “hands” cannot ensure the full success of his missions

A leader shouldn't be alone in special circumstances. He must have around him, as any surgeon, one or two reliable hands to permanently assist him and offer him the needed support in any important action he undertakes. Besides, who would not enjoy the presence of one, two or even several reliable “hands”, with a very solid experience in the field, however good he may be in the field in which he performs his activity?

Consequences are extremely sad for the leader who tries to “operate” without being assisted by some precious hands. Even if he has some important traits and a rich experience, he will not be able to do everything by himself, without depending on someone else. Finding one or two animated by the desire of being helpful to him, but which, at the same time, be handy, patient, as well as quick, is vital to his success. His hands ensure de success of his own actions, provide him advice and help in whatever action he may undertake. With some reliable hand by his sie, the leader ends any fear.

P.S. All breakdowns of a leader are due to the lack of experience, but also to the lack of some good hands which can help him in case of need. At the same time, we must keep in mind the fact that we often see cases when the leader is, apparently, assisted by skilful “hands”, but they serve in fact other interests and can cause him many problems.