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Leadership development: Preparing dietetics professionals for success
practice applications
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
Leadership Development: Preparing Dietetics Professionals for Success
T
his month, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) will hold our second Associationwide Leadership Institute, building upon the remarkable success and value of the first Institute in February 2004. More than 250 current and incoming member leaders from affiliates, dietetic practice groups, the House of Delegates, Association committees, the Commission on Accreditation of Dietetics Education, and the Commission on Dietetic Registration, along with 50 ADA members selected through an application process, will gather in St Petersburg, FL for an intensive program designed to fulfill our commitment to developing leadership skills among our members and help achieve ADA’s mission of leading the profession of dietetics. We want to strengthen members’ ability to lead in your organizations. We want to enhance dietetics professionals’ leadership competencies, both conceptually and interpersonally. We want to assist our members in mastering inevitable changes in their environment. Through a combination of information, skill development, and intensive practicebased educational experiences, the Leadership Institute helps ADA members advance the goals of our profession, as expressed in ADA’s mission and vision.
Susan H. Laramee
LEADERSHIP QUALITIES What are the qualities needed for leadership? Writing in the March Journal, Mary B. Gregoire, PhD, RD, FADA, and Susan W. Arendt, MS, RD, point out that “a clear definition of leadership (in dietetics) remains elusive” (1). Jack Welch, former chairman and chief executive officer of General Electric, has said leaders need to possess and demonstrate the four “E’s” of leadership: ●
●
● ●
SELF AS LEADER For members who aren’t able to attend the Leadership Institute, there is still quite a bit you can do to develop your leadership qualities in your own life and career. Opportunities are available in the ADA leadership posts mentioned above, and every workplace offers leadership opportunities, whether formal or informal, from the team or departmental level all the way to the top of your organization.
Energy: the ability to “go-go-go,” love of action, and the ability to embrace change. Energize: the skill to inspire others to move mountains when they must. Edge: the courage to make tough decisions. Execute: the ability to get the job done (2).
Equally important for the leader is passion—a heartfelt, deep, and authentic excitement for the job. People with passion are easy to identify. They care about what they are doing and about their employees, colleagues, and friends. They love to learn and grow as individuals and get excited when the people around them do the same. Two final qualities that are required of a leader are integrity and
© 2005 by the American Dietetic Association
intelligence. Integrity is being truthful, taking responsibility for your actions, and admitting your mistakes and then fixing them. Leaders with integrity demonstrate fairness, loyalty, and goodness. They listen to others and value human dignity. Intelligence in leaders is demonstrated by their breadth of knowledge, which allows them to lead using a variety of complex skills. Intelligence also includes a high level of self-awareness, maturity, and self-control—those emotional components that allow leaders to handle setbacks and enjoy success. Achieving success as a leader means making results the most important part of the job. Good leaders both think and lead with the “long view,” and they tolerate conflict because they understand that some discord is normal and even necessary to create opportunities for the organization to be challenged and grow. CULTURE OF LEADERSHIP Successful organizations create a culture of leadership, and that includes leadership skills development. ADA is committed to making resources available to develop our members as leaders in all areas of dietetics practice. —Susan H. Laramee, MS, RD, LDN, FADA [email protected] doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2004.11.024 References 1. Greigoire MB, Arendt, SW. Leadership: Reflections over the past 100 years. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004; 104:395-403. 2. Welch J. Four E’s (A jolly good fellow). Wall Street Journal. January 22, 2004.
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
17
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
Leadership Development: Preparing Dietetics Professionals for Success
T
his month, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) will hold our second Associationwide Leadership Institute, building upon the remarkable success and value of the first Institute in February 2004. More than 250 current and incoming member leaders from affiliates, dietetic practice groups, the House of Delegates, Association committees, the Commission on Accreditation of Dietetics Education, and the Commission on Dietetic Registration, along with 50 ADA members selected through an application process, will gather in St Petersburg, FL for an intensive program designed to fulfill our commitment to developing leadership skills among our members and help achieve ADA’s mission of leading the profession of dietetics. We want to strengthen members’ ability to lead in your organizations. We want to enhance dietetics professionals’ leadership competencies, both conceptually and interpersonally. We want to assist our members in mastering inevitable changes in their environment. Through a combination of information, skill development, and intensive practicebased educational experiences, the Leadership Institute helps ADA members advance the goals of our profession, as expressed in ADA’s mission and vision.
Susan H. Laramee
LEADERSHIP QUALITIES What are the qualities needed for leadership? Writing in the March Journal, Mary B. Gregoire, PhD, RD, FADA, and Susan W. Arendt, MS, RD, point out that “a clear definition of leadership (in dietetics) remains elusive” (1). Jack Welch, former chairman and chief executive officer of General Electric, has said leaders need to possess and demonstrate the four “E’s” of leadership: ●
●
● ●
SELF AS LEADER For members who aren’t able to attend the Leadership Institute, there is still quite a bit you can do to develop your leadership qualities in your own life and career. Opportunities are available in the ADA leadership posts mentioned above, and every workplace offers leadership opportunities, whether formal or informal, from the team or departmental level all the way to the top of your organization.
Energy: the ability to “go-go-go,” love of action, and the ability to embrace change. Energize: the skill to inspire others to move mountains when they must. Edge: the courage to make tough decisions. Execute: the ability to get the job done (2).
Equally important for the leader is passion—a heartfelt, deep, and authentic excitement for the job. People with passion are easy to identify. They care about what they are doing and about their employees, colleagues, and friends. They love to learn and grow as individuals and get excited when the people around them do the same. Two final qualities that are required of a leader are integrity and
© 2005 by the American Dietetic Association
intelligence. Integrity is being truthful, taking responsibility for your actions, and admitting your mistakes and then fixing them. Leaders with integrity demonstrate fairness, loyalty, and goodness. They listen to others and value human dignity. Intelligence in leaders is demonstrated by their breadth of knowledge, which allows them to lead using a variety of complex skills. Intelligence also includes a high level of self-awareness, maturity, and self-control—those emotional components that allow leaders to handle setbacks and enjoy success. Achieving success as a leader means making results the most important part of the job. Good leaders both think and lead with the “long view,” and they tolerate conflict because they understand that some discord is normal and even necessary to create opportunities for the organization to be challenged and grow. CULTURE OF LEADERSHIP Successful organizations create a culture of leadership, and that includes leadership skills development. ADA is committed to making resources available to develop our members as leaders in all areas of dietetics practice. —Susan H. Laramee, MS, RD, LDN, FADA [email protected] doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2004.11.024 References 1. Greigoire MB, Arendt, SW. Leadership: Reflections over the past 100 years. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004; 104:395-403. 2. Welch J. Four E’s (A jolly good fellow). Wall Street Journal. January 22, 2004.
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
17