“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.”
—Marie Curie
We’re not far removed from what was an attendance record-breaking Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which took place in March in Chicago. What struck me most is how the theme of the event, “Bolder/Brighter,” came to life in every way, in every moment. It was an opportunity to reconnect to why we do this work, what is possible when purpose and talent mix to innovate better ways to serve patients, and how it feels to be part of a community that shares a collective passion to make a difference for the better. Throughout the countless presentations and conversations, there were some high-level themes that seemed ever present. I offer them here as key reminders that may serve to help us all do our parts to lead toward a bolder, brighter future for our patients, communities and teams.
Purpose drives us. As ACHE Chair Delvecchio S. Finley, FACHE, remarked in his opening comments, it’s important to understand your purpose, to listen intently to yourself and how you want to make a difference in honor of that purpose. Though it may seem obvious, it does require a healthy combination of introspection and practice to fully appreciate its power. When you are connected to purpose, it is the secret sauce that unleashes our potential and determination to be bolder, brighter leaders. It begins by connecting to what’s inside each of us and accelerates as it benefits others. What’s most magical about it is that when practiced, it is fueled and reinforced—providing us the meaning we need in our work to lead well.
Innovating is a must. Innovation occurs at the intersection of purpose, collaboration and talent. It begins with a desire to do something better and can be a game changer in the end. It can free us from our usual processes and blueprints, to challenge our approaches and perspectives. Adopting a “possibilities” mindset can be helpful, looking beyond the obvious and considering what “can” be done instead of allowing ourselves to be limited by what “can’t.” At Congress, during the Masters Series on innovation, WellSpan reminded us that innovation requires new capabilities such as human-centered design. And the hot topic session with Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD, of the Harvard Business School, called for a model of coproduction of health to improve engagement and personalization of healthcare. By embracing the possibilities that can open new horizons for our organizations and healthcare as a whole, we can lead in bolder and brighter ways that make a considerable difference for those we serve.
There is power in community. I am always struck by the energy and commitment of healthcare leaders—sharing a purpose with a common goal to advance health and serve others. This bond is what defines us as a community. What is also striking is that by honoring our uniqueness we are somehow strengthened as a community, allowing us to leverage this richness to propel us forward. Whether student, CEO, department head, nurse, physician or any other defining characteristic, we are united in a dedication to taking care of those who put their faith in us. From this position we can leverage our unique and collective talents to be better problem solvers, innovators and talent cultivators. When we reach outside ourselves to form new bonds, we become stronger and more effective leaders—better able to meet the challenges ahead.
Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, is president/CEO of the American College of Healthcare Executives (dbowen@ache.org).