Character Development - Thoughts on Community Health Center Governing Boards and Executive Directors

Character Development - Thoughts on Community Health Center Governing Boards and Executive Directors

We have talked a lot about Executive Director managerial development. We have been mostly talking about developing people's strength, and giving them experiences.

Keep in mind that character is not developed that way. Character is developed on the inside and not on the outside.

These are factors that need to be foremost in the minds and actions of Boards of Directors of Community Health Centers when they chose their Executive Director.

Next Post: Community Health Center Management Principles for Governing Boards and Senior Managers - Principle 1 - The Job of the Manager

Questions to Support the Universal Standards for Community Health Center Governing Boards.

Questions to Support the Universal Standards for Community Health Center Governing Boards.

Previously we summarized the Universal Standards for Community Health Center Governing Boards.

§ CLARITY (Is it clear and understandable?)

§ ACCURACY (Is it verifiable?)

§ PRECISION (Details/Specifics)

§ BREADTH (Is it too narrow or too broad a perspective?)

§ DEPTH (Applicable factors)

§ RELEVANCE (Help us understand?)

§ SIGNIFICANCE (Is it important?)

§ LOGIC (Does it make sense?)

§ FAIRNESS (Is it objective?)

Today we present additional questions to ask during the monthly Community Health Center Governing Board and Financial meetings, in your fiduciary role, as a Governing Board member:

Clarification
Did I hear you saying_____________________?
Have I missed anything?
Take a few minutes to think out loud, and I’ll try to catch on to your idea.

If it would help to sketch something on the board, let’s do it.
How would you explain that image to someone who has not had your experience?
I’m struggling with clarity. Can you restate your idea in an alternative way?

Summarization
So, would you say_______________?
Am I correct?

Reasons and Evidence
How do you know that?

Point of View
I am curious as to the basis for your point of view.
Why do you think this would be the case?
Is your point of view different now from two years ago?
Have you gotten all relevant points of view on this issue?
Which ones are missing?

Information
What information are we missing?
How can you determine if the source of the information is reliable?

Problem
Can you put the problem in the form of a question?

Assumptions
What assumptions are you making?
What would you say to someone who did not agree with your assumptions?

Consequences
What would be the implications of believing that?

Influences
What if the opposite were true?
If we grant that conclusion, where would that lead us?
Let me see if I understand; there was no problem until _________________?
So what made things seem different was when ___________________?

Goals
What are we trying to accomplish?
What would someone say - who did not agree with us?
Can you put the goal in the form of a question?

Next post: Thoughts on Community Health Center Governing Boards and Executive Directors - Character Development

Universal Standards for Community Health Center Governing Boards.

Universal Standards for Community Health Center Governing Boards.

Community Health Center Governing Boards are ofttimes both risk avoidant and conflict averse. To fully execute their fiduciary responsibilities, Governing Boards need to consistently display and practice the behaviors that ensure Executive Director and Senior Manager:

§ CLARITY (Is it clear and understandable?)

§ ACCURACY (verifiable?)

§ PRECISION (details/specifics)

§ BREADTH (Is it too narrow or too broad a perspective?)

§ DEPTH (applicable factors)

§ RELEVANCE (help us understand?)

§ SIGNIFICANCE (Is it important?)

§ LOGIC (does it make sense?)

§ FAIRNESS (Is it objective?)

Next post: Questions to Support the Universal Standards for Community Health Center Governing Boards.

Special Notes on Effective Problem Solving for Community Health Center Leadership.

Special Notes on Effective Problem Solving for Community Health Center Leadership.

Review / Use Round Robins.

Remain Socratic (ask questions).

Notice this is usually an iterative (repetitive) process for community health center problems.

Capture potential solutions along the way, but work the process to completion.

Don’t jump to solutions too quickly. You’ll get better results if you remain
disciplined with your thinking.

Be sure to separate the problem from the symptoms.

Avoid the temptation to shoot the messenger.

Refuse to participate in the all too human game of “who can we blame?”
This is a problem the Community Health Center Governing Board and Executive Director have either created or allowed to happen. Avoid blame, and seek a solution.

Next post: Universal Standards for Community Health Center Governing Boards.