Ellington C. Jones, DrPH, FACHE

When lines of reporting get tangled up and your list of stakeholders become unmanageable, you've got to remember that at the end of the day, the common denominator and the purpose you and all of your colleagues are where you are is The Patient. Most administrators will say they have several bosses, which takes a methodical and strategic leader to navigate. It's not easy, and when it gets heavy, just remember you exist to do what's in the best interest of The Patient. When it comes to prioritizing the list from many bosses, put the things first that will be best for the patient. Let your many bosses know your priorities and those that you'll table for later that you haven't forgotten them.

Change is hard sometimes and prioritizing your well-being is key to adapting and thriving. I think your emotional intelligence (EQ) can be your secret weapon. Knowing your EQ means understanding your own emotions and those of your colleagues. It helps you navigate stress, build resilience, and support each other. I'm sure you know someone you feel you can tell anything to. Why? Likely because their emotional reaction to any information is always productive. When you understand your emotional triggers and how you react, you can develop healthy coping and relationship building mechanisms. Whether it's pausing to think, taking a walk, or practicing mindfulness, find the EQ Strengthening strategy that works for you!

You've got to enter conflict knowing there's three sides to every story, (1) one person's side, (2) the other person's side, and (3) the truth. Talk to each side separately, listen carefully and try to understand what's really behind the conflict. Is it a personality clash, a resource issue, a miscommunication/misunderstanding? Get to the root of the problem so you can tackle it effectively without judging. Find a resolution that works for everyone involved. Sometimes that means compromise, sometimes it means setting clearer expectations. Lastly, always follow up, check in and see how everyone is handling the change. You've got this.

It's not what you know but... WRONG. It's Who Know's You! I'm sure you know who Oprah Winfrey is, I'd be pleasantly surprised if she knew you. Building a network of folks who remember you by name is an important step in advancing in the field of healthcare management. They remember you through the impact you've made on them personally as well as the value you've brought to the relationship. It's about intentionally in building authentic relationships with people who have experienced and have benefited from your contributions firsthand. Start by seeking opportunities to demonstrate your expertise and interests so that people are aware. Speak up!

We all know that healthcare can be demanding, and it's easy for things to get out of balance. I like to make sure everyone feels comfortable coming to me – or to each other – if they're feeling overwhelmed. My door is always open. Literally and figuratively. If someone has something to say drop me an email, or set up a time to chat. No topic is off-limits. I trust the judgment of my team. They're the experts in their roles. I love when my team speaks up. Don't let things fester. If they have a concern, we address it together. Lastly, I encourage solution-oriented discussions, lets always close a discussion with a "here's what we're going to do," even if it's a "we'll talk tomorrow about this" - and we'll both share the burden.

We all want to leverage the latest and greatest to make things better for our patients & teams. Here's my 2 cents: • Access? We need to open the door wider. AI can augment our teams' ability to reach communities with tailored programs and appointment reminders that are powered by data. • Tighter care coordination: No more information silos! AI can connect our wonderful doctors, nurses, and specialists seamlessly, ensuring everyone's on the same page about a patient's health. No more disjointed diagnoses, just clear communication and better outcomes for patients. Better problem-solving with AI analyzing data faster, note-taking in your meetings, and prioritizing your emails; you'll look like a genius (which, of course, you already are).