For the latest Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) “On Leadership” blog post, Daryn David, PhD, PCC, summarizes the many gems of wisdom gifted by the department’s Grand Rounds speakers and column contributors this academic year.
Over the course of the past year, this “On Leadership” blog has profiled a range of visionary leaders who engage critically and display deep commitment to their own and others’ leadership and professional development, at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and beyond.
Highlighting the important role that coaching has played in unleashing her own professional potential, Beth Heinz, senior vice president for women’s and children’s services at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH), shared with us how enhanced self-knowledge and awareness of her strengths has helped her to fashion a multifaceted, dynamic career across the healthcare space.
Dr. David Della-Guistina, vice chair for education in Emergency Medicine, described how he utilizes coaching to develop Graduate Medical Education (GME) program directors and associate program directors who take part in his “WISER Approach to GME Leadership” training program. And Dr. Maryellen Flaherty-Hewitt, vice chair for faculty affairs and professional development in Pediatrics, provided testimony to the tremendous power she finds in the coach approach to foster faculty members’ capacity to derive their own solutions and professional direction.
On a complementary note were the various effective leadership practices explored by our stellar line-up of “On Leadership” Grand Rounds speakers, including the co-architects of LET’s LEAD, a transformational leadership training program that works to unleash the potential of individuals in recovery from various life challenges. Dr. Chyrell Bellamy and Ms. Maria Restrepo-Toro of the YSM Program for Recovery and Community Health spoke about the various ways in which they practice effective dyadic leadership by deliberately calling upon one another’s complementary strengths and employing deep listening to work through differences of opinion.
Dr. Eric Clemons, the founding CEO and President of the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT) and the Connecticut Community Outreach and Revitalization Program (ConnCORP), provided moving inspiration when he described his commitment to using humble inquiry to elevate and serve others. And who could forget artistic director Jacob Padron’s description of how he has drawn on the wisdom of all stakeholders and his “net that works” while shepherding the Long Wharf Theater into its newest chapter?
Rounding out our discussion of essential leadership skills was Dr. Catherine Sandler’s presentation on her Emotional Profiles Triangle model, developed over her 30-plus years of work as one of the UK’s premier executive coaches. Exploring now different leaders respond to stress by fighting (“tiger” leaders), fleeing (“dolphins”), or freezing (“owls”), Dr. Sandler made the case that effective leadership is premised upon self-awareness, self-management, and knowledge of what makes others tick.
Vulnerability, humility, and self-reflection; a commitment to serving others while helping them become more independent and agentic; continuously availing oneself of trainings, coaching, and other developmental opportunities: this year’s “On Leadership” stars conveyed the myriad qualities and commitments required to grow a culture of dynamic leadership and development within academic medicine and beyond.
The “On Leadership” blog was launched in 2022 to address the importance of connection, collaboration, and embodying a service leadership mindset in professional and personal contexts. YCSC Assistant Professor Daryn H. David, PhD directs the column and serves as director for leadership development and coaching initiatives in the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) Offices of Academic and Professional Development and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. Any opinions or views expressed in this blog are those of the author and are not intended to represent Yale University.