Inside The Edge
About
The Executive Chair
The one question you always want to ask a successful person in a senior leadership role is “How did you get there?” In developing your own career, you learn more from hearing what worked – and didn’t work – from senior leaders and hearing their wisdom than from any other source.
We are embarking on a series of interviews with leaders who exemplify success for us. In their words are insights that can give you direction for moving your own career forward.
To read a summary, written by Michael DeVenney, of the past 12 interviews this year - click here.
| Chris Power: Breath New Air and Change the Perspective |
Michael(MD): What did you do to move to a leadership role?Chris Power (CP): I certainly did not plan on being a CEO. I always felt I needed to stay one step ahead so I could be ready for the next opportunity in front of me. I invested in my education and gained the experiences and accomplishments to prepare myself for what could be next. I started out in nursing and decided to get my degree – few people had done that at the time. From there, I attained my Masters – again, even fewer people did that. It was a challenge balancing kids, education, and work but making the investment gave me the edge. I focused on out-stripping “my yesterday” and not against anyone else to keep moving ahead. By making myself continue to grow, I was tapped on the shoulder a number of times in my career to take on more responsibility. (MD): What is one thing that developing professionals need to do more of?(CP):Take risks! It is hard for young people starting as we often expect them to conform. I think young professionals need to challenge the status quo more – not abrasively but confidently. I always tried hard to demonstrate to my managers and supervisors that there were other ways and I believe this really set me apart from other colleagues. So, my advice is to take the risk, find another way to do things, and be prepared to show how that way works and how things need to change. Bring your ideas forward. See the issue, whether it is a problem or opportunity, and come up with ideas, look for the evidence, get your case together, and bring it to your managers. Bring your ideas with the right message, “I know we can do it better, take a chance on me.” I have only been turned down rarely in bringing my ideas forward this way.(MD): What about doing less of?(CP): Young professionals today need to make it less about them. What I look for in people that sets them apart is a strong sense of loyalty. Balancing this is the need to not suppress your innovative spirit. Don’t try to conform too much – colour outside the lines a little and don’t be afraid to bring those ideas forward. Being loyal doesn’t mean you keep your ideas back. (MD): What experience helped you the most in your career and why?(CP): The experience that most shaped my leadership career was to leave Halifax and move to Ontario for a senior position there. I started my career in Nova Scotia, loved it, and had my family here but I recognized the need to “breathe a different air.” I needed to change to grow. The motivation came from applying for a CEO position here and not getting it. I asked for feedback and heard that “you are great the way you are” and I felt that the decision-makers did not see me for who I had become and did not recognize my growth. They saw me as I had been. I needed to change up the perspective. The timing was great as I moved to a senior role in an Ontario-based organization and immersed myself in a progressive and innovative environment there. My eyes were opened more than I would ever have thought possible. People looked at me very differently and I came back to Nova Scotia a different person. If you can go away to gain a different experience, breathe different air, and then come back having grown (we need you to come back) you can find new opportunities to make a greater contribution. It doesn’t have to be a different province or country, it may be a different organization. You just need to find a shift to learn and grow to change people’s perspective of you. (MD): What was the greatest challenge moving your career forward?(CP): The real challenge for me was how people saw me. I felt I was stereotyped – people saw me in the role of nursing and the title of nurse. It was never the “woman” piece – I am very comfortable with being a female leader and have never felt intimidated or challenged by that. The issue was to get out of the mold of how people saw me and, initially, I did not know how to break out of it. The move to Ontario was the experience that broke the mold. Ironically, my earlier role as a nurse is a huge advantage because I can relate to their challenges. What was once a problem has become a very positive asset. (MD): What is the greatest strength of your approach to leadership?(CP): My greatest strength is to keep moving forward and not take “no” for an answer. If a door closes, I find another way. My approach has been to “find the space, step into it, and don’t wait for them to ask you.” You learn to be persuasive, take the risk, and bring your ideas forward. I also appreciate that in others around me. I was only 25 years old when I moved to my first manager position and what I have always appreciated is someone who doesn’t just bring me problems but presents me with solutions. No one ever told me I could make suggestions – I just did. (MD): What has been the biggest surprise you have had since attaining a senior leadership role?(CP): I am most surprised at the amount of power I hold. I don’t so much mean power to make people do things but more how much people will pay attention to what I say or do. If I say something, it can become gospel. It is really interesting how people can read so much from my reactions, mannerisms, and comments – much more than I may intend. I really have to take care at times. I suppose it is really less about me personally and more about the position. What is the greatest benefit to you in attaining a senior leadership role?(CP): The power to affect change. What has driven me in my career has been my desire to make a difference. I think most people do as well but I have worked tirelessly in my career to do that. I ask myself every day if I have had a positive effect. Some days I can get frustrated but you definitely see the progress. It now really is about how you enable others to make the changes. I feel so blessed to be in this position – it may be hard work, and can consume your life at times, but it is exciting and greatly rewarding. (MD): What is the next achievement you want in your leadership career?(CP): I love being here as CEO and what we are doing together at Capital Health. As a CEO, the question is always when to leave and let the organization grow. But – I’m young and full of energy so it is a struggle. I am not at all ready to move on and I feel I have enough insight to know when it is time for a new perspective. There are lots of opportunities – we’ll see. Think about where you are now in your career and what you can take from Chris’ observations. We would love to hear your comments about what are your key takeaways from our conversation with Chris. Tell us your progress – we want you to succeed. ______________________________________________________________
|
Capital Health has been named as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and is on a journey to become a world-leading haven for people-centered health, healing, and learning. Chris Power’s leadership of Capital Health has been based on practical transformation …