Seventh Annual Leadership Conference Panel I: How to Handle Being the Only ONE

Panelists Angela Barron McBride, Indiana University School of Nursing Angela Barron McBride, Indiana University School of Nursing Linda Burnes Bolton, Cedars Sinai Medical Center Linda Burnes Bolton, Cedars Sinai Medical Center William Holzemer, University of California- San Francisco William Holzemer, University of California- San Francisco Christina Spellman, Mayday Fund Christina Spellman, Mayday Fund Mary Black, University of Minnesota Mary Black, University of Minnesota Robert Pope, University of California-San Francisco Robert Pope, University of California-San Francisco

Focus of Session The commonplace leadership challenge of being the only ONEbeing the only nurse on a committee, the only person of color, the only woman or man, the only one running an office, the oldest, the youngest, and so forth The commonplace leadership challenge of being the only ONEbeing the only nurse on a committee, the only person of color, the only woman or man, the only one running an office, the oldest, the youngest, and so forth

Why A Challenge? Self-conscious Self-conscious Invisible Invisible Dismissed when say the expected Dismissed when say the expected Worried about representing constituency Worried about representing constituency

Own Experience Wanted school of nursing to be represented on some key university committees, but saw faculty stop going because they didnt feel welcome Wanted school of nursing to be represented on some key university committees, but saw faculty stop going because they didnt feel welcome Served as only nurse on National Advisory Mental Health Council and increased my effectiveness by sending minutes and news of opportunities to a group of nurse leaders Served as only nurse on National Advisory Mental Health Council and increased my effectiveness by sending minutes and news of opportunities to a group of nurse leaders

How Did I Get Appointed to Hospital Board? Pushed for more connection between service and education Pushed for more connection between service and education Got appointed to some committees and showed up regularly though agendas were boring and emphasized medical practice and education Got appointed to some committees and showed up regularly though agendas were boring and emphasized medical practice and education Would not let Medical Education Committee include more MDs until there was at least more than one RN Would not let Medical Education Committee include more MDs until there was at least more than one RN

Sat with different physicians each time I attended meetings, and sent them notes of congratulations when good things happened Sat with different physicians each time I attended meetings, and sent them notes of congratulations when good things happened Gave time and treasure to hospital foundation Gave time and treasure to hospital foundation Became friends with sole woman on board Became friends with sole woman on board Spent a year at IOM as scholar-in- residence Spent a year at IOM as scholar-in- residence

After eight years of continuous effort, I was invited to join Board and chair Boards Committee on Quality-Safety

Other Panelists Linda Burnes Bolton, Cedars Sinai Medical Center Linda Burnes Bolton, Cedars Sinai Medical Center William Holzemer, University of California- San Francisco William Holzemer, University of California- San Francisco Christina Spellman, Mayday Fund Christina Spellman, Mayday Fund Mary Black, University of Minnesota Mary Black, University of Minnesota Robert Pope, University of California-San Francisco Robert Pope, University of California-San Francisco

Top 10+ Tips Be prepared; do your homework (and that includes googling the other committee members ahead of time to get to know more about them). Be prepared; do your homework (and that includes googling the other committee members ahead of time to get to know more about them). Understand the agenda of others and use it to put forth yours. Understand the agenda of others and use it to put forth yours. Pick your battles; you can be effective without taking a stand on every issue. Carefully chose moments of engagement or times to speak. Pick your battles; you can be effective without taking a stand on every issue. Carefully chose moments of engagement or times to speak.

Know how to translate your concerns/issues to others in jargon-free language (no acronyms). Know how to translate your concerns/issues to others in jargon-free language (no acronyms). Be a synthesizer not separator. Build coalitions based on common interests within the group (people can come together as part of a team around shared values even if they dont share other identifiers). Be a synthesizer not separator. Build coalitions based on common interests within the group (people can come together as part of a team around shared values even if they dont share other identifiers).

Cultivate your own support system inside the group and outside so you can handle challenging situations, e.g., a coach or an organization of likeminded individuals. Cultivate your own support system inside the group and outside so you can handle challenging situations, e.g., a coach or an organization of likeminded individuals. Participate in all events. Keep showing up even if you wonder if your presence matters; showing up is a powerful act in its own right. Participate in all events. Keep showing up even if you wonder if your presence matters; showing up is a powerful act in its own right.

Be personable. Greet everyone personally at the start of every meeting; thats a way of helping people remember who you are and of establishing threads of connection. Be personable. Greet everyone personally at the start of every meeting; thats a way of helping people remember who you are and of establishing threads of connection. Speak up on issues unrelated to those for which you are expected to serve as standard bearer, so the group doesnt just pigeonhole you. Speak up on issues unrelated to those for which you are expected to serve as standard bearer, so the group doesnt just pigeonhole you.

Work to get others involved in the work of the group (committee members, consultants, speakers, and so forth). Work to get others involved in the work of the group (committee members, consultants, speakers, and so forth). Remember Its the relationship! Get to know whats important to your colleagues, so you can use that information to serve as both a thought leader and catalyst for common ground. Remember Its the relationship! Get to know whats important to your colleagues, so you can use that information to serve as both a thought leader and catalyst for common ground.