Accent on Compassion: A new narrative for health and human services
When you start a new job, as I did a few months ago when I arrived at Aspire Indiana Health, you have the opportunity of deciding how to introduce yourself. Some people develop an “elevator speech.” In 30 seconds or less, you try to explain your professional history and what you hope to accomplish in your new role.
Frankly, it’s a lot of pressure!
Often what results is an experience of imposter syndrome. We listen to ourselves speak and wonder what in the world we’re talking about, because we sure don’t recognize ourselves and know we’ll never live up to the words that just came out of our mouths! I’m well familiar with this.
At Aspire, I’ve had the lovely experience of not feeling so much of an imposter. Well, I might be an imposter Hoosier right now, but I am committed to becoming fully fledged in the years ahead!
Anyway, I’m sure my wife, Andrea, would divorce me if I suggested moving again. I can dig into the job and commit to the elevator speech I give myself about what I hope to accomplish, but I feel like I really know why I’m here.
Maybe I only have one notable attribute, that’s my British accent. Many perceive it as conferring some level of sophistication… little do they know.
I must take greatest advantage of that while I can!! More importantly, Aspire clearly has so many strengths as an organization. I have seen that without a doubt in the months I’ve been CEO.
But none of that matters if we hoard our gifts in our own silo. The best results for us as an organization, and the way we serve our community, will come when we explore ways we can grow by working together with those organizations we serve alongside in the community.
This means being committed to building relationships with our partners in authentic ways. We need to keep our eye on serving with excellence – but also with humility and humanity.
We won’t always have all the answers. No single organization does. We need to be humble enough to listen, learn and collaborate for the greater good.
Leaders constantly face the question of how we can reshape the narrative – how do we go beyond merely sustaining whatever has always been? How do we change the story so the quest is clear and we know how to overcome challenges in order to reach the goal?
If we want Aspire to be a leader among health care organizations, we face the same question.
We have the opportunity to lead with humility, generosity and mutuality in a way that puts patients at the center of the story. The goal is to ensure the health care experience is one of healing and wholeness, not fragmentation and frustration. The interconnectedness of our efforts, and the recognition that we are bound together in this pursuit, will move us toward collaboration that solves problems.
And at some point the British accent won’t matter because every Hoosier will have the opportunity to thrive. Health care won’t be a competitive, selfish system. We’ll have a selfless, collaborative way to deliver the best care together. And by then I will really be a Hoosier!
I am not here for an elevator speech. I’m committed to real change, and change with an accent on compassion.
