Camille Orridge doesn’t think she fits the STEREOTYPE OF A LEADER. That’s because she believes leadership has very little to do with what you look or sound like, and everything to do with what you are passionate about.
On the evening of Monday, November 9, 2009, Camille, the Executive Director of the Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre (TC CCAC), engaged in a conversation with thirty of Ontario’s emerging healthcare leaders in Yorkville at the Empire Lounge.
Camille immigrated to Canada from Jamaica in the 1960s. She was hired as a ward maid, but was unable to work in the hospital’s private wards as an immigrant and person of colour. After working in various positions, including health records, she realized that her passion was in community care. There she feels she is able to make a different in the lives of patients and families.
Camille shared some of her insights on leadership
- Leaders have different styles and qualities — Leadership comes in many forms. Some leaders have extroverted personalities and are able to inspire action in others through public speaking (think President Barack Obama). Others are more introverted and assert their leadership through subtle actions (think Bill Gates). Embrace your own style of leadership.
- Take risks — Progress is achieved as leaders take risks and resolve to accept the consequences. People are not always going to agree with your decisions, but you shouldn’t let that stop you.
- Give up the idea that you need to be liked — Leaders should strive to be respected for their work; however, this will require decisions that are not always popular. Explain your rationale, but don’t wait for everyone to agree.
- Live with and learn from your failures — Leaders need to accept that with risk, at times comes failure. Deal with it, and don’t dwell on it — it’s part of the job.
- Build on the successes of prior leaders — Several strong and wise leaders have existed in the past. We stand on their shoulders. Take the time to learn from them and their ideas.
- Be open minded; mind the danger of a single voice — When you stay in your corner of the world, you risk missing the bigger picture. Leaders should actively seek out alternative views and broaden their frame of reference.
- Surround yourself with diversity — Engage people with different points of view. A blend of backgrounds will help you to construct creative solutions.
- Develop survival skills — Developing ’street smarts’ is important. Don’t be naive. Understand the repercussions of your decisions and have the courage to see your decisions through.
Question and Answer with the Audience
Q: What was your biggest mistake?
A: The CCAC invested in a communication technology that didn’t prove to be valuable. The hardest decision was to know when to walk away and to take ownership for failure by reporting it to the board.
Q: How do you foster leadership in the people you work with?
A: My job is to give people the tools they need to be successful, and to not get in their way. I look for people who are self-motivated and demonstrate their inner drive. Don’t expect leaders to spot you; if you are a leader, voice your opinion and get yourself noticed.
Q: How do you get your staff to deliver on strategies that they disagree with?
A: I try to be clear about the objectives of every initiative the CCAC undertakes. I’m also flexible on how we achieve our objectives and I involve my team in coming up with the ‘how’. Explain your rationale and the value in the bigger picture. Show how you are improving patient care and tie your decision back to your common goals.
Q: How can small organizations be successful?
A: Focus on your core business. Know how and when to make partnerships in non-core areas. The CCAC recognized that IT was not one of its core businesses, so it developed a partnering agreement with SIMS.
Q: How do you prevent your workload from eroding your energy and passion?
A: Create a ’safe’ place where you get rejuvenated, whether it be with your family, through volunteering, by watching TV, or developing relationships with friends. Develop a professional network of people that you trust and can vent to.
What you didn’t know about Camille – Rapid Fire Questions
Q: Do you prefer a convertible or SUV?
A: Convertible
Q: Are you a night owl or an early bird?
A: Early bird
Q: What was your first job in healthcare?
A: Ward maid at the Toronto General Hospital
Q: If you weren’t the CEO of the TC CCAC, what would you be?
A: Gallivanting across Africa
Q: What is your favourite weekend activity?
A: Watching TV
Q: If you could instantly fix one thing in healthcare, what would it be?
A: eHealth
For a PDF version of this Speaker Series summary, click here to download.
Thank you for those who were able to attend. We look forward to seeing you at our next ELF event!
Please join us for our twelfth Emerging Leader Forum Speaker Series event on Thursday, March 18th, 2010, as we go behind the scenes with a hospital CEO!
Martin Gurbin, Director Business Development & Innovation, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Healthcare environment
