Build Better Leaders: The 2018 ACR/ARHP Leadership Conference Focused on Practical Tips for Guiding Committees, Meetings & Conference Calls

Effective volunteer leaders inspire their committees, and together, they accomplish ambitious goals to ensure the future of rheumatology. Expert consultants shared tips and tools for effective leadership at this year’s ACR/ARHP Leadership Conference, held Jan. 22 in Atlanta.

“We view your role in the ACR as volunteers to be critical, not only for the success and growth of our organization, but hopefully for your personal success and growth,” said ACR President David Daikh, MD, PhD. To increase membership, revenue and the ACR’s organizational profile, volunteers will lead the way, he said.

Michael Sessions on Effective Leadership
Effective leaders have a clear vision of their objectives, the ability to convey that vision to volunteers, and a plan on how to get there, said psychologist Michael Sessions, PhD, a senior consultant with Turknett Leadership Group in Atlanta.

“If your vision is larger than you alone can accomplish, then you need other people. Leadership is doing more than you can do yourself,” said Dr. Sessions. Your volunteers must view you as accountable. “Attachment to the mission is what drives participation from volunteers. Your ability to lead others is determined by your ability to influence the perspectives and experiences of your team.”

Committees that include diverse viewpoints will succeed if the leader finds a way to achieve consensus, said Dr. Sessions. Early on, volunteers are enthusiastic, but they need hands-on direction from their chair. Over time, volunteers grow more confident about tasks, but their enthusiasm may ebb. The effective leader then shifts from direction to more supportive behaviors, such as offering praise, seeking group input and facilitating problem solving. Ultimately, the effective leader is able to delegate tasks, he said.

Good leaders convey integrity, which is like a scale that balances elements of respect and responsibility, said Dr. Sessions. Leaders show respect to volunteers by showing empathy, holding their temper or avoiding the reflex to blame others when something goes wrong. They show responsibility by asking for help, being accountable to others and focusing on the big picture, he said.

To improve your leadership skills, Dr. Sessions offered some practical tips:

• Foster trust at committee meetings to defuse conflicts. Volunteers cycle on and off committees, so individuals may not know what’s been done before. Listen to each idea with respect, even if you think it won’t work;
• Vet competing ideas. Keep discussion focused on the mission so individuals don’t lose enthusiasm if their idea isn’t embraced outright; and
• Attach your vision and the organization’s mission to every meeting, online interaction or conference call.

If you don’t fully understand a volunteer’s idea, ask them to explain it, said Dr. Sessions. “Remember that ‘what were you thinking?’ is a great leadership tool if you ask it as an actual question. You can achieve empathy through curiosity.”

Ragan Cohn on Effective Meetings
Who doesn’t dread meetings and conference calls? They may seem to lack purpose, run on too long and resolve nothing, said Ragan Cohn, CAE.

“It’s really about time. If you’re going to invest your time in a meeting, you want to come out of it feeling like you made a contribution and left with something valuable to your work,” said Ms. Cohn, vice president of governance and communications for the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants. Good leaders can control meetings and calls so they achieve those goals and engage participation, she said.

Be clear about every meeting’s purpose, said Ms. Cohn. Think ahead about other people you may want to invite to particular meetings to help the group make decisions effectively, such as legal counsel or former committee members.

Don’t waste precious meeting time rehashing past events. Email attendees a backgrounder memo they can read in advance. Use email surveys to gauge consensus or conflicts beforehand. At the meeting, spend time discussing how to achieve tasks, and the possible risks and benefits of each idea, she said.

Ms. Cohn asked attendees to call out ideas on how to improve meetings or conference calls, which included:

• Create a strong agenda and stick to it;
• Set ground rules so meetings don’t turn into gripe sessions;
• Call on each participant so every viewpoint is heard;
• Explain organization-specific jargon to new members; and
• Define the metrics of successful outcomes for each decision.

“It’s not enough to make the right call as a leader when it comes to decision making. Your group must be committed to a decision and see it through,” said Ms. Cohn. “If people are engaged in this process, they’re more likely to be committed to the outcome.”

To close your meeting or call, review each decision and ensure that each attendee knows the next steps, said Ms. Cohn. Promptly review the minutes to ensure accuracy.

Chairing a committee can feel like a weighty responsibility, but you don’t have to shoulder it alone, she said. Delegate tasks and ask for help.

“Remember, your staff liaison is your most important resource and partner. They want you to be successful. Invite that partnership and take advantage of it. You’ll find that your chair experience will be rewarding, and your committee will succeed in making effective decisions that move the ACR forward.”

Susan Bernstein is a freelance journalist based in Atlanta.