Leading in Changing Times: Leaders with a Vision: The ability to see beyond the present Wednesday, April 30, 2014 Stephanie Wrightsman-Birch, RNC, MPH, MS, FNP

Quick Overview How to Use Web Technology All lines have been muted. To un-mute your line please dial*6 Asking a Question – You can type your questions into the chat box (shown right) – Raise your hand. Using the icon at the top of your screen (example shown right) Lastly active participation will make sure today’s presentation a success! 2

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Housekeeping The Leading in Changing Time Series webinars are meant to be collaborative conversations between Key MCH leaders and the audience. Today be prepared to hear a great, thought- provoking presentation, ask great questions, and share your thoughts and experiences. This format only works if YOU are personally engaged. 4

STEPHANIE WRIGHTSMAN-BIRCH CHIEF SECTION OF WOMEN’S, CHILDREN’S, AND FAMILY HEALTH ALASKA DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH APRIL 30, 2014 The Essential Skills of Strategic Leadership

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health What does it mean to be strategic? Adaptation in an every changing environment  46 chief executives and business leaders were interviewed by the Marketing Society to come up with a definitive list  They rated strategic leadership to be the single most critical skill Michel Robert in his book “Strategy Pure & Simple” describes strategic thinking as “the process of thought that goes on inside the heads of leadership and key people around them that helps them to determine “the look” of the organization.

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health Strategic thinking is the Framework Strategic thinking is different from strategic planning and operational planning It serves as the framework for leadership to determine “what” the organization should look like But what are the skills needed to lead an organization to “get there”?

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health The Essential Skills There are Six: Anticipate Challenge Interpret Decide Align Learn

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health ANTICIPATE This is the skill that helps you to detect threats and opportunities:  Gather information internal and external to the organization  Consider alternative scenarios-environmental scans can be helpful; use those scenarios to imagine best and worst case  Network and talk with your “peeps”  Talk with other states and find out what they are doing!

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health CHALLENGE Question the status quo Challenge you own and others’ assumptions Encourage others to speak their mind and share their fears Use your “lenses” carefully-examine problems or challenges through a variety of lenses. Think critically

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health INTERPRET The skill of synthesizing information- making sense of it Avoid reflexive responses What are the patterns in the information? What is the qualitative as well as the quantitative information telling you? Step away from the data or information

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health DECIDE Making decisions takes courage-avoid “analysis paralysis” There is a fine balance between getting the right enough information and options and avoiding shooting from the hip. Break big decisions into pieces-be incremental

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health ALIGN The art of finding common ground and achieving buy in Requires outreach, communication, building trust and frequent engagement Remember that consensus is a goal, but not the means to an end

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health LEARN Create a Learning Environment Role model Seek out examples where others were successful and were not successful Study the Failures of others and yourself-be open and share what you learned from your study

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health Take the Test Strategic Aptitude Test Assessment Can be found at hbrsurvey.decsionstrat.com or at

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health How can these skills be used ? Think about the implementation of MCH 3.0  What will be your approach to implementing this new framework?  When you think about strategic leadership, what are the first 3 steps to take to get staff buy in?

Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health Conclusions Work to apply the skills together Analyze your performance Get input from your staff Share what you have learned

(907) CHIEF SECTION OF WOMEN’S, CHILDREN’S, & FAMILY HEALTH 3601 C STREET, SUITE 322 ANCHORAGE, AK Thank You

Discussion Time to share your thoughts and experiences. 19