Leadership

Leadership 2020 and Beyond

By Melissa Walters, MHA, CPMSM, CPCS, MSOW-C, FMSP

At the 2020 NAMSS State Leadership Conference this January, attendees focused on “Enhancing Our Skills to Better Prepare Us for the Future.” Well, who knew just a few weeks later, these skills would be so essential during this international crisis. Topics like critical thinking, conflict resolution, and strength-based leadership captivated our attention. “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them,” Albert Einstein said. How true that is. We often get stuck in “the way we have always done things,” and it is challenging for us to see something different or to think outside the box. 

You might be asking yourself, “Why is critical thinking so important?” and “How does it relate to us as MSPs and tomorrow’s MSP?” As an MSP, critical thinking is key to patient safety, outcomes management, and ultimately career success. In our profession, we must analyze information, systematically solve problems, generate innovative solutions, plan strategically, think creatively, and “self-advocate” as well as be able to present our work, business plans, leadership, and ideas to others in a way that can be readily understood. 

Conflict resolution also is an essential skill, not just in our profession, but in life. Conflict is a common, inevitable part of life. It exists because people don’t always get along or agree. Why do you think we learn so early in life the phrase “do unto others” or “treat others as you would like to be treated”? Nobody likes dealing with conflict, but it is important to learn how to address and deal with conflict, because when conflict is resolved effectively, it leads to many benefits such as accomplishing goals (personal or professional) and strengthening relationships. Great outcomes are often the result of individuals who deal with conflict.

Lastly, we spent time discussing strength-based leadership, based on the book “Grounded: How Leaders Stay Rooted in an Uncertain World” by Bob Rosen. Wow, what an amazing presentation and topic of self-reflection. We learned a lot about ourselves and about each other. At the end, each table had to creatively present their strength-based leadership. I must say, we have some very talented MSPs. One theme really resonated with me, “Achieve Success in Our Future – Facing the Future Through Our Diversity.” The team strengths here are: strategic, achiever, futuristic, arranger, and learner. Each of us has our own leadership strengths, and having a better understanding of those strengths will help guide us to that future path.

I never cease to be amazed by the talent of our state leaders. Every year, you inspire me. 

Look forward to more on leadership from Melissa Walters in the quarter 2 issue of Synergy, coming to NAMSS members this spring.