Richard Cordova, who began his service this month as chairman of the American College of Healthcare Executives, addressed the group Monday morning at the 2015 Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Chicago.
Mr. Cordova has served as president and CEO of Children's Hospital Los Angeles since 2006. In his address, Mr. Cordova counted down the following top 10 lessons he has learned from more than four decades of healthcare leadership experience.
10. Engage early in your profession. Especially for early careerists, Mr. Cordova stresses getting involved and showing a commitment to investing in future success.
9. Be a life-long learner. "Commit to learning at every stage in your career," Mr. Cordova says. "If you're not learning anymore in your present job, it's probably time to move on."
8. Everything is temporary. Change is ever-present, especially in healthcare. This isn't necessarily negative, but it means healthcare professionals must always be prepared to embrace change, he says.
7. Be prepared to reinvent yourself. While it is important to be able to manage change, leaders may be faced with fork-in-the-road career decisions. Don't be afraid to reinvent yourself and take advantage of unforeseen opportunities, Mr. Cordova says.
6. Be kind to your body. "Physical and mental health breeds success in the workplace," says Mr. Cordova. For leaders in healthcare, it is critical to be the role model of your organization, get out from behind the desk, participate and promote a healthy lifestyle.
5. You're only as good as your team. "Admitting your weaknesses takes courage, but in doing so you can surround yourself with people who complete you," Mr. Cordova says. "I'm fond of saying that I'm a mile wide and an inch deep on issues. So I hire people who are a mile deep and an inch wide on those issues."
4. Lead from your heart. Make decisions based on your values, Mr. Cordova says, and lead with authenticity. It will resonate with others and move the organization forward.
3. Culture counts. No strategic plan can work if an organization's culture is not aligned with the initiative.
2. Family first. This is something every leader must learn on their own, according to Mr. Cordova.
1. Paint your own picture. At the beginning of any career, most people follow the vision of their boss or organization, Mr. Cordova says. "But at some point you begin to see the dots, you begin to connect the dots and develop your own vision for your organization," he says. When you see your own vision, "That's when the fun begins. That's when leadership really kicks in."
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