Winter 2024
It’s an exciting time as our local ACHE chapter, California Association of Healthcare Leaders (CAHL), is kicking off the new year with a number of events and programs before the ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership comes at the end of March.
I’ve had the chance to engage with many students and early careerist members at events recently. They often ask how they can start working on leadership skills and presence even before they move into a formal leadership role. A book I’d recommend on this topic is “The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life” (Zander & Zander).
The book explores 12 practices aimed at unlocking creativity, fostering innovation, and promoting personal and professional growth. It offers a perspective on approaching life with openness, creativity, and a mindset focused on possibilities rather than limitations. I wanted to call out three practices that I think are particularly relevant for those who are starting out their leadership journey:
Giving an A: This concept encourages individuals to approach situations with the assumption that everyone is capable of greatness. By “giving an A” to others, you set high expectations and create an environment where people feel empowered to strive for excellence. You exhibit a performance mindset that most leaders look to cultivate.
Being the Board: The book emphasizes the significance of how we frame our experiences and perceptions. By reframing challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, individuals can shift their mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance. You focus more on how you can lead vs. the lack of a formal leadership title.
Leading from Any Chair: This concept challenges traditional notions of leadership by suggesting that anyone can be a leader, regardless of their formal position or title. It encourages individuals to take initiative, inspire others, and contribute positively to their organizations and communities. You are modelling leader behavior and begin having others see you as a leader.
In particular, the principle of “Leading from Any Chair” fosters a mindset of leadership that transcends formal roles and titles. You may feel that your team or company culture doesn’t currently support this belief, but there are steps you can take to help shift the culture towards one that embraces this concept:
Lead by Example: Even if the broader culture doesn’t support it, you can demonstrate leadership qualities in your own actions and interactions. Take initiative, collaborate with others, and demonstrate the value of leading from any chair through your behavior.
Start Conversations: Engage your colleagues and leaders in conversations about the benefits of a more inclusive and empowered approach to leadership.
Seek Allies: Identify allies within your organization who share your vision for a more inclusive and empowered culture. Work together to advocate for change and support each other in your efforts to promote leadership from any chair.
Be Patient and Persistent: Cultural change takes time, so be patient and persistent in your efforts to promote a culture of leading from any chair. Celebrate small victories along the way and stay focused on the long-term goal of creating a more inclusive and empowering workplace culture.
By taking proactive steps to promote the concept of “Leading from Any Chair” within your team or company, you can help contribute to a more inclusive, innovative, and resilient organizational culture. Focus on what you can control—your own behavior, communication, and approach to work—and strive to create a positive and productive environment for yourself and your colleagues.
College Bowl Competition – Coming Back to Northern California!
Under the leadership of Mohit Gulati, College Bowl Chair, CAHL is excited to bring the College Bowl back to Northern California after many years.
This competition is for teams of three to four students at healthcare administration programs here in Northern and Central California. Undergraduate and graduate teams will compete in separate divisions. The event will be held on April 6, from 9am-1pm in Sacramento, and will be a case study competition focused on a real-world issue from a local health system.
There will be a CAHL networking event immediately afterwards at 1 pm.
Judges, volunteers, and sponsors are needed, and we are excited to have teams sign up for what will be a great competition. Please reach out to Mo at mgulati530@gmail.com or 530-415-8920 for more information and to learn more about how you can get involved.
2024 Congress on Healthcare Leadership
The ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership is open for registration. This year’s conference theme is “Big Ideas” and will run March 25-28, 2024, in Chicago.
Exciting news – as of January 2024, about 500 more attendees have registered than in 2023 (which was a record year for Congress attendance with almost 5,000 attendees).
If you are attending Congress, CAHL invites you to attend the California Chapters Joint Networking Event the evening before the main conference begins. It will be on Sunday, March 24, 6-8pm, at the “Living Room”, West Tower, at the Hyatt Regency (the main conference hotel). Drinks and appetizers will be served. Come connect with your past colleagues and meet new people at this fun event. You can register here: https://ache-cahl.org/event/2024-congress-joint-networking-reception/
Career Resource Center at Congress
If you are planning on attending Congress, ACHE’s Career Resource Center is a great resource. If you are an early- or mid-careerist, you can prepare yourself for your next steps in your career path by getting feedback from senior ACHE members. If you’re an experienced leader, you can give back by sharing your expertise with other ACHE members.
Resume Review—Meet with attendees from a broad range of backgrounds and experience levels to discuss their resume and answer related interview process questions.
Career Advising—Discuss career objectives and career management strategies with healthcare professionals from across the field.
If you want to book a Resume Review or Career Advising appointment for your own career development, you select these programs when completing your registration for Congress to book a slot – you’ll see this as an event on the calendar view.
If you want to volunteer to be a coach for resume review or career advising, please complete the volunteer application (https://www.ache.org/Career-Resource-Center/Volunteer-Application) by March 11. Volunteering also counts as a healthcare-related activity for FACHE advancement/recertification, and qualifies you for two points in the ACHE Recognition Program. If you have any questions, please contact ACHE at careers@ache.org.