March 31, 2006

MGHers learn strategic planning from Leadership Academy course

On March 9, the six participants in the MGH Leadership Academy's year-long strategic planning class gathered for the last time — for a dinner out to celebrate their successful completion of the Academy's inaugural course. Under the guidance of Allison Rimm, vice president for Strategic Planning and Information Management, the graduates spent a year learning methods of strategic planning and applying their skills to local nonprofit agencies and programs in need of organizational support. The course — a mix of lectures, community work, field reports and active group discussions — met monthly in the MGH Training and Workforce Development suite at 165 Charles River Plaza.

Rimm says one aim of the course — which covered topics such as how to assess an organization's strengths and weaknesses, set goals and focus its resources on its strategic priorities — was to help managers develop an appreciation of their own expertise. "Having confidence in our abilities is essential to be effective and persuasive leaders. The MGH is so rich in talent that it can be easy to take our skills for granted," she explains. "By placing some of our strongest managers in smaller organizations, they can recognize the value of their skills and abilities. This experience was a win for everyone. Participants gained important new management tools while the community agencies benefited from the strategy consultations."

John Driscoll, assistant director of MGH Police and Security, found the course to be valuable to his work managing a staff of some 100 officers. "Understanding strategic planning from the inside out has helped me look at issues differently and appreciate the way my particular piece fits into the overall MGH machine," Driscoll says. "I learned a lot of techniques that I've been able to apply to my own work."

For his project, Driscoll worked with SAGE (Stop Abuse, Gain Empowerment), a collaborative that provides assistance to women over the age of 60 who have suffered from domestic violence — a program founded by Bonnie Zimmer, MSW, of MGH Social Services. During the course of six months, Driscoll helped SAGE refine its mission statement, develop a vision and identify strategic priorities for training, membership and infrastructure.

Driscoll's Academy classmates included Shawn Farrell, administrative director for MGH Neurology; Katie Hope, former MGH budget director; Peggy Meehan, formerly of MGH Radiology; Elena Olson, administrative director for the MGH Multicultural Affairs Office; and Greg Pauly, executive director of Primary Care. In addition to SAGE, programs benefiting from participants' expertise included the Brookline public school system, the West End House, YouthCare and HarborCOV.

The MGH Leadership Academy was established in 2005 to help managers refine the skills that can contribute to their success as leaders. In her next class, Rimm and the Academy will take on a different challenge: life planning. Participants will use strategic planning methodology to assess their talents, interests and life goals, write personal vision statements and better align their work with a sense of purpose.