Starting out as a healthcare compliance officer can feel overwhelming.
You’re expected to know the regulations, understand the culture, and demonstrate your value to leaders—all while figuring out how to fit into the corporate politics of the organization. One of the best ways to accomplish all three is to keep the following perspectives in mind when it comes to anything you’re working on:
The task in front of you and the steps you need to take to resolve it (...pretty obvious).
How to make your supervisor’s job easier as you resolve the matter (often overlooked).
Below are five key areas that will help you support your supervisor more effectively.
1. Anticipate Issues Before They Escalate
Seek to avoid only reporting problems after they have occurred. Here, you want to flag potential risks early, while at the same time—and I can’t stress this enough—proposing practical solutions.
What’s the “Why” Behind it?
Learning to be proactive early shows your leader that you can think like a risk manager—not just a rule enforcer.
2. Communicate Clearly and Concisely
Using executive-level updates like SBAR or IRAC will help your supervisor quickly grasp the issue without wading through details and asking questions.
(Actually, let me re-phrase that...they’ll still ask questions, but it’ll help reduce the number of questions you get asked.)
What’s the “Why” Behind it?
Knowing how to connect an issue to organizational risk, or logically sorting out complicated facts will demonstrate your leadership skills to be efficient with their time. In the long run, it will help you build credibility and influence.
3. Prioritize Your Needs Based on Organizational Risk
In this line of work, everything appears urgent at first glance. Unfortunately, the reality is some things are truly urgent to the organization—while some have to wait.
So how do you know which is which?
Ask yourself—is this (insert: email response, meeting request, phone call) urgent for me, or the organization? You can also help your supervisor focus by ranking issues (e.g., high, medium, low risk). This way, they know what truly needs their attention now versus what can wait.
What’s the “Why” Behind it?
Learning to prioritize demonstrates maturity and helps your supervisor trust your judgment. One of those unwritten rules—but something I guarantee you is taken into consideration when it comes to promotions.
4. Keep Them Out of the Weeds & Independently Problem-Solve
If you’re faced with routine compliance task (e.g., what questions or ask or where to find an answer), be as independent and self-sufficient as you can be. Additionally, when it comes to problem-solving, be self-aware not to fall into a comfort zone of letting your supervisor take the lead because it feels easier. For example, instead of saying “There’s a problem with these physician payments under the contract, what should we do?”…try saying, “I have reviewed the physician payment documentation, as well as the contract, and here is what I think we could do to resolve this matter compliantly.”
What’s the “Why” Behind it?
Knowing when to handle things independently builds confidence for you—and your supervisor. It also frees up their time to focus on strategy and leadership.
5. Protect Their Reputation
Watch out for your supervisor by double, or sometimes, even triple-checking your work for accuracy before it leaves your desk.
What’s the “Why” Behind it?
While occasional mistakes will happen, if it becomes a pattern, it can affect your supervisor’s credibility with leadership. To safeguard that from happening, take time to slow down and do your due diligence. There is no prize for being the fastest to resolve an issue that I’m aware of.
Pulling it All Together
Supporting your supervisor isn’t about doing more work—it’s about working smarter. It’s about seeing the big picture and aligning your efforts so that you and your supervisor succeed together. While not intended to be an all-inclusive list, the above strategies do provide a solid foundation to help position you as a trusted partner while earn credibility for a bright future.
