Latest Changes in Leadership

Article Editor on October 12, 2022

Latest Changes in Leadership

Jordan Sudberg, MD, is a pain management specialist. Along with his team, Dr. Sudberg specializes in hip and knee replacements, shoulder joint surgery, and cartilage repair. For several years, his peers have recognized him as a top physician in Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery. Here are some of the latest changes in leadership that his team has instituted at UPMC in the past year.

1. Implementing Hybrid Working Options

UPMC offers flex time to facilitate a variety of work schedules that include time off during breaks in the day, such as lunchtime and early morning coffee breaks. Dr. Sudberg says this has been an excellent success for his team, with performance rising and a sense of camaraderie among the staff. He notes that many working moms find this new arrangement particularly helpful in managing their balance of home and work. Also, team members could get to know each other better in the relaxed environment of coffee breaks and lunchtime conversations.

2. Paying for Health Insurance

This year, the UPMC Human Resources department began allowing each staff member to choose their health insurance plan. This change gives employees more control over their health care and saves the hospital a great deal of money. For example, Dr. Sudberg has seen that his coverage through UPMC is much less expensive than it would be because he has access to a wider variety of covered services with the package provided by UPMC.

3. Providing Sabbaticals for Long-Term Staff Members

Dr. Sudberg notes, “It can be difficult for many long-term team members to adapt to change after twenty years or more with one employer. A sabbatical program allows them to relax, take a break from the routine, and come back refreshed.”

4. Offering Flexible Scheduling for New Moms

UPMC has implemented several programs to encourage a more family-oriented workplace. For example, women may return to work whenever they are comfortable, taking as much time off after delivery as needed. The hospital also provides counseling regarding breastfeeding, mother/father bonding time with their newborns, and daycare options for older children.

5. Encouraging Employee Involvement in the Community

The UPMC Human Resources Department promoted a community relations program that allows employees to choose from various service opportunities, including volunteering at a local hospital and reaching out to inner-city youth through sports. Dr. Sudberg says that this is an excellent way for employees to connect with their communities and contribute to improving them.

6. Changing Skill Set Requirements

Instead of having a small number of highly trained specialists, UPMC allows the staff to choose their professional development. The hospital offers a variety of educational and experiential programs to fill the needs of individual team members. Dr. Sudberg notes that this provides more opportunities for advancement and helps employees feel more satisfied with their jobs.
This year, Jordan Sudberg has seen his team take strides in professional development, teamwork, employee satisfaction, and overall happiness at the workplace. To continue these trends, the UPMC Human Resources department offers a general philosophy of creating a healthy work environment with various programs for individual employees. Dr. Sudberg is proud that UPMC has recognized the need to support the staff to maintain optimal performance.

Humility is a Leadership Trait

Article Editor on September 15, 2022

Humility is a Leadership Trait

A sense of humility is essential to leadership because it authenticates a person’s humanity. Humility is a quality that enables people to see themselves as they are and not more than they are. A humble leader can listen and empathize with those they lead. Empathizing with others creates the foundation for being an effective leader because it builds trust. When a sense of humility is coupled with strong personal values, there is integrity in the actions of a leader. Here are reasons why humility is a highly desired leadership trait.

1. Leads to Better Listening

The ability to listen is a quality that all good leaders possess. It is proven that those considered to be good listeners are better able to lead their followers. For the best results, leaders should be in tune with those they lead, which is a sign of good leadership. A humble leader can listen and empathize with those they instruct.

2. Bonding and Trust

According to former arbitrage trader Helen Lee Schifter, a sense of humility is critical for leaders. She says that her humble nature enabled her to bond with and trust her followers. A leader who maintains control and influence over those under their guidance will be someone who can be charged because they can constantly listen, understand, and share the same values as those being led.

3. Imparting Wisdom

Humility is a quality that empowers leaders of all backgrounds to see leadership as a privilege. A humble leader will view leadership as an honor and will not take it lightly. Those humble can impart valuable lessons to those they lead through their actions in turn, which is rarely done. For example, every leader should be able to point out how the leader made mistakes before assuming that role.

4. Increased Collaboration

Those humble and have a strong sense of humility will be able to lead united teams. Listening and empathizing will allow leaders to bring out the best in others. Helen Lee Schifter says that as a leader, she listened to her followers’ discouragement and fears and went on to work with them. As a result, leaders united their followers toward certain ends. Those humble are willing to work together even if they come from different backgrounds, which is vital for an organization’s success.

5. Sense of Purpose

Humility is a trait that motivates leaders to have a sense of purpose. Those who have humility do not take leadership roles for granted but rather acknowledge the responsibility that comes with the job. A humble leader will be able to lead with purpose, enabling them to inspire followers and make a difference in the lives of those being taught. This sense of purpose has motivated leaders to communicate better with their followers, establish trust, and engage in many other activities that lead toward achieving organizational goals.

Humility is a leadership trait that can positively impact an organization. Leaders with a strong sense of humility will be able to appreciate their role as leaders and lead with purpose.

The Key to Inclusive Leadership

Article Editor on November 23, 2021

The Key to Inclusive Leadership 

Recently, Alexander Djerassi published an article in the Harvard Business Review discussing how to develop inclusive leadership. He talks about the importance of creating a culture of trust – where employees feel comfortable taking risks and not being afraid to make mistakes. This is essential for organizations that want their team members to be innovative, creative thinkers willing to go above and beyond their expectations.

Djerassi is surprised by how many companies are still stuck in an old-fashioned way of thinking about leadership. He believes that “the old command-and-control style that says, ‘Tell me what you’re going to do and then do it is not the way to get things done in today’s complex environments.” Leaders need to be more like coaches than drill sergeants.

Coaches don’t give orders. They help people do more of what they are already doing. A coach’s job is to motivate, inspire, and teach–not control the behavior of others. The job of a leader is to create an environment that motivates employees to rise above their self-imposed limitations. They need to set a positive example of an inclusive leader and trust that their employees will rise to the challenge.

While writing this article, Djerassi thought about the managers on his team. He couldn’t help but think how he could have been a better coach to them in some cases. He realized that it took him too long to acknowledge his managers’ strengths and encourage them to lead, but believed that he did a good job of encouraging them when they messed up because he was quick to praise the corrective actions they took.

Djerassi encourages leaders to do what they can to help their employees feel safe. Their ability to innovate is vital for any company that wants to succeed in the future. It’s also important to make mistakes to learn and improve. So many companies take a hard stance on failure, punishing employees who make mistakes or costing them their jobs when they are an essential part of its success. It’s important to create an environment where it’s okay to take risks and fail. They need to be ready and willing to accept new ideas, try different approaches, and not be afraid of what people will think of them if they do something wrong.

Djerassi says if they want their company to stay competitive in a fast-moving world, they can’t afford to have a culture that stifles risk-taking and rewards employees who play it safe. According to “Harvard Business Review” by Alexander Djerassi, an effective leader creates a culture of trust with no fear of mistakes or consequences from being innovative. This idea is more important than ever in a world where modern businesses are looking for employees to take risks and develop creative solutions. A new approach to leadership will help companies of all sizes stay competitive in a fast-moving world.

In conclusion, creating a culture where it’s okay to be innovative and take risks is essential for any company that wants to stay competitive in the future. Not only does this make your company more profitable, but it also makes your employees feel like they’re working for an organization that cares about them and their well-being. If they want their business to survive, they need to start working together as a team and make the necessary changes now.

Leadership in Journalism

Article Editor on September 11, 2020

There are so many different individuals who shaped the world of journalism. Whether it’s broadcasters, journalists, reporters, or any type of media savant, the technology used to gather information wouldn’t be as pronounced as it is today were it not for those individuals. These include Anderson Cooper, Barbara Walters, Bob Woodward, Walter Cronkite, Ken Kurson, and many others. It takes a team of people to help a journalist be successful and without the help of their peers, none of them would be remembered as they are to this day. 

It takes a lot of charisma to be a journalist. In addition, it takes a lot of leadership

to front a publication. When journalists first start out, they are given a topic to report on and their job is to run with it. Most of the investigation has to be done on their own and that could mean a multitude of things. Let’s say they are investigating a fraud case. If a breaking story comes out about it before they finish their article, a journalist has to be quick enough to change up any of their facts and update their writing as soon as possible. As new stories evolve, it’s paramount that journalists, anchors, broadcasters, and reporters evolve with them. There is so much time that goes into writing a perfect story, which for many of these, is every piece they’ve ever written. Interviewing is also a time-consuming aspect of the role many people forget about. Ken Kurson says in order to access great information, lots of time has to be put into it. In all, journalism takes great responsibility and leadership.