by Christopher Cornue

I've often written about (and will most likely continue to write about) the importance for leaders to be collaborative, seek counsel from many disparate individuals, and to recognize there are varying opinions and views to consider when making decisions. Essentially...to be open to debate. This, coupled with other leadership characteristics (e.g., being decisive), will make one an incredibly effective and impactful leader. I've come across some readings recently that help to reinforce this.

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The first comes from the November issue of HealthLeaders, where they talk about creating a new model of leadership for today's hospital environments. They write that "the drill sergeant as hospital CEO is out of style." They further write that the role of CEO at today's hospital has changed to be one that "is operating in collaboration with various constituent roups." Recognition is given to the fact that CEO and healthcare leaders are held accountable for more than just bottom-line performance. They must ensure safe environments, satisfaction across multiple constituencies, and strong clinical performance. The best way to achieve these additional and critical outcomes is to be very collaborative with the groups that have the most ability to impact the end results. This is where the new style of leader, one who is open to varying opinions, and is collaborative by nature, is most successful.

The other reading I came across from the book Talent is Never Enough was a description of President Abraham Lincoln's style of leadership, which was validated further at a recent Lincoln Exhibit in Chicago. In both the book and exhibit, President Lincoln was described as a very "teachable" president and that while he wasn't a great leader early in his career, he grew into his presidency because he was an avid listener. He created a safe environment that was conducive to anyone who wanted to express an opinion. He frequently asked people he met to offer their ideas, opinions and suggestions. As a result, he received more correspondence than any president before him. This openness to new ideas helped him to become a better leader...one that others saw as willing to listen to other views, even if he didn't agree with them. As a result of this style, he developed into one of our nation's great leaders.

I continue to believe that safe environments where everyone's ideas are respected, and encouraged is one of most effective ways to: 1) understand the temperature of the environment; 2) bring people, sometimes with differing views, "on board" with a specific decision or direction; and 3) make more informed decisions that benefit the organization as a whole.

Finally, from the book 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player, the following, brilliant assertion is made: "open communication increases trust, trust increases ownership, and ownership increases participation."

Christopher Cornue is the former CEO of McKee Medical Center in Northern Colorado, served as vice president at Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center in Chicago, and has held several leadership roles at the University of Chicago Hospitals.