LEAD Academy is an intensive six-day, 12-module training experience using innovative tools and experiential learning to empower recently hired, newly appointed or previously untrained health care leaders to better understand and use their strengths. Designed for health care supervisors and managers, LEAD is built on the underlying principle that effective leadership requires productive relationships to support excellence in patient care, sustainable business objectives and a safe patient environment.

Over the past few years, LEAD classes have been held exclusively at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale. Now, to increase convenience for Inland Empire health care professionals, the entire, six-session program will also be presented at Riverside University Health System – Medical Center in Moreno Valley. Sessions there are now planned for July 27, Aug. 24, Sept. 21, Oct. 26, Nov. 16 and Dec. 14.

LEAD Academy sessions provide a safe environment to practice newly learned skills and align work goals and actions to support the broader vision of the organization. Engaging activities guide participants through the process of understanding differing leadership styles and overcoming the distinct challenges of being a leader. Specific program focus areas include:

• Self-development
• Supporting the development of others
• Managing and developing a successful organization

Schedule

• Session 1 – July 27
• Session 2 – August 24
• Session 3 – September 21
• Session 4 – October 26
• Session 5 – November 16
• Session 6 – December 14

Academy Objectives

At the conclusion of the LEAD Academy, participating health care managers will be able to:

1. Improve the performance of the people and groups that report to them
2. Enhance their contribution to the achievement of facility and System objectives
3. Increase their own self management skills during everyday and stressful situations

Our Curriculum

Classroom modules, taught by world-class facilitators, culminate with a certificate of completion. Each session can be taken individually or participants can sign up for the complete program. Organizations interested in a customized program option can contact us for more information and a quote.

SESSION 1

From Peer, to Manager, to Leader

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Differentiate between leadership and management/supervision, and use the approach best suited to the situation
• Explain what successful leadership, management/supervision looks and sounds like
• Apply four key leadership principles and practices that support success for supervisors and managers
• Describe how job responsibilities at each level of the organization aligns to help the organization achieve its goals and objectives

Leading People Differently

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Approach tasks and relationships differently with different people (using the DISC tool)
• Acknowledge how their own behavior is influenced by preferences
• Adapt their style to develop improved relationships with employees who have a different “style”
• Influence people with whom they have been challenged in the past

SESSION 2

Leadership Communication Best Practices

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Successfully use the three communication cues that impact understanding
• Use interpretive listening to help employees and colleagues understand the reason for communication
• Deliver messages in a way that achieves the intent of the communication
• Apply the most effective communication tools with different people in different situations

Coaching Employees to Higher Performance

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Identify coaching goals based on the needs of the employee and the organization
• Adapt their coaching approach based on the person in the situation and the desired outcome
• Plan and facilitate coaching meetings for improved or higher performance
• Increase employee performance as a result of focused feedback

SESSION 3

Leading Others Through Change

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Predict their own natural responses to day-to-day and event-based change
• Determine their employees and others predictable responses to day-to-day and event-based change
• Use their leadership and communication skills to help their employees and others work through issues arising from change
• Keep and adapt gentle pressure towards successful change

Managing Performance

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Create measurable performance goals with each employee that reinforce the organization’s goals
• Observe employee performance objectively
• Reduce rater bias in evaluating performance and providing feedback
• Stay in their “Adult” when giving performance feedback

SESSION 4

Planning and Running Effective Meetings

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Use different processes for different meetings
• Plan and open outcome-oriented meetings
• Manage meeting processes and behaviors
• Close meetings to enhance understanding, agreement and action
• Follow-up on meetings to provide maximum benefit

Building and Leading Effective Teams

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Clarify the team’s purpose and ensure a WIIFM for all team members
• Define the roles and responsibilities required from team members
• Identify and build on each team member’s knowledge, skill, experience, and interpersonal style
• Apply process tools and techniques to guide pro-active team engagement
• Measure, track, and report team performance for continuous team development

SESSION 5

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Identify common sources of conflict
• Choose between five options for responding to conflict at the source based on the risks and benefits of each
• Adjust their preferred style for responding to conflict to achieve a productive outcome
• Facilitate and engage in a conversation focused on successful conflict resolution

Organizing Your Time, Work and Priorities

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Identify and overcome personal time wasters, procrastination, or indecision
• Create or enhance a personal productivity strategy based on strengths and limitations
• Prioritize requests, requirements and deadlines
• Organize and manage their workspace, phone, and e-mail

SESSION 6

Why and How of Organizational Policies

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Explain the impact of the dynamics that drive organizational behavior in health care
• Create policies that establish or reinforce the desired organizational culture
• Interpret and communicate organizational policies and ensure understanding and buy-in to increase compliance
• Administer and reinforce organizational policies

Business and Finance for Today’s Health Care Leader

At the conclusion of this module managers will be able to:

• Read a financial report and know why it matters
• Explain health care reimbursement; how hospitals get paid, third party payers and why they matter
• Describe the relationship between a department finances and the hospital’s finance
• Explain organizational performance measures and how to use them