I recently heard a fascinating story about the growth of sharks in captivity.
Sharks in the wild typically grow to be very large. However, sharks that are placed in an aquarium tend to achieve a fraction of that size. The science behind this is complicated, and many theories exist as to how their growth gets stunted, but we know that it is due to the limits of their environment. It seems that nothing can replace the open ocean for sharks. Sharks need room to grow.
This struck me as a powerful metaphor for our growth and development, especially as it relates to both personal and organizational strategy. Oftentimes, we need to look beyond the confines of the existing ‘tank’ to truly grow (Strategy Creation) and achieve our full potential (Leadership Development).
Every year at HMSL, we:
- Conduct an annual evaluation of our internal environment and explore trends occurring in our external environment (SWOT Analysis)
- Create a portfolio of innovative ideas (Innovation Portfolio)
- Bring the two together in order to plan for the future
This is part of our strategy creation where we essentially ask, “If this opportunity or threat presented itself, based on our strengths and weaknesses, how would we respond?”
This process helps us be strategic and disciplined in how we allocate time, effort and resources. It allows us to look beyond the confines of our current environment (our tank) and map opportunities beyond (the ocean) what we are doing today. We invite all levels of the organization to participate in aspects of this process.
Research has shown that leadership development occurs 10% through formal training, 20% through coaching and mentoring and 70% through on the job experience and resources. At HMSL, you have numerous resources to aid you in continuous improvement and growth, including the new Career Central website.
Choosing to be an active participant in Performance Excellence – from Strategy Creation to Strategic Planning and Strategy Execution – is an opportunity for each of us, regardless of our role, to contribute towards the achievement of our vision: Unparalleled safety, quality, service and innovation. Performance Excellence empowers each of us to ask: “Where do I need a little extra push? How can I become as big a shark as I can possibly be?” This creates a spirit of continuous improvement and growth.
Everybody, every day — making our hospital the best that it can be.
Chris Siebenaler
Regional Senior Vice President and CEO
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