HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ACADEMICIANS: MAKING YOUR GRANDMOTHER (AND YOUR

DEPARTMENT CHAIR) PROUD

Scott C. Borinstein M.D.,Ph.D. Geoffrey Fleming M.D.

Help with Workshop Creation: Bill Cutrer, M.D., M.Ed., and Jill Simmons M.D., and Joseph

Gigante M.D. Vanderbilt University Department of Pediatrics

March 26, 2015

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Drs. Borinstein, Cutrer, Fleming, Simmons, and Gigante have documented no financial relationships to disclose or conflicts of interests to resolve.

Goals and Objectives

• Outline the attributes and habits of academic physicians that can impact how they are perceived by their peers

• Discuss common political pitfalls in academia, and how to effectively navigate them

• Review successful and unsuccessful behaviors of professional networking and practice the delivery of a successful “Elevator Speech”

Introductions

Workshop Structure

• Introduction

• Part 1: “Be your own Image Consultant”

• Part 2: Political Pitfalls

• Part 3: Keys to Successful Networking

• Questions and Comments

The Hazinski Society

• Developed in 2011 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics

• Goal: Enhance career development skills for junior faculty members

• Monthly meetings provide peer-mentorship and networking though small group discussions led by a senior faculty facilitator

• Very popular with > 85 pediatric junior faculty currently participating

Cutrer W, Brown R, Fleming G, Simmons J, Borinstein S, Cooper W, Gigante J. Junior Faculty Development Program Using Facilitated Peer Mentoring. MedEdPORTAL; 2014. Available from: www.mededportal.org/publication/9905 Fleming G, Simmons J, Xu M, Gesell S, Brown R, Cutrer W, Gigante J, Cooper W. A Facilitated Peer Mentoring Program for Junior Faculty Improves Professional Development and Peer Networking. Accepted for publication by Academic Medicine

Academic Medicine Success

• Academic metrics are important – Clinical Expertise – Research prowess (grants, publications) – Teaching aptitude

• However, acting professionally is also very important

Professionalism

The skill, judgment, and polite behavior expected from a person who is trained to do a job well.

SMALL GROUP BREAKOUT

• What are the Attributes of Academic Success? – LEFT SIDE: Think of 9-10 POSITIVE qualities of

successful academic physicians – RIGHT SIDE: Identify 9-10 NEGATIVE qualities that

impair academic success

– 5 minutes to discuss amongst yourselves – 15 minutes to share your top 3 qualities with the

larger group

Characteristics of Successful Academic Physicians

POSTIVE QUALITIES

NEGATIVE QUALITIES

A word to work by: CREDO

C = Communicator R = Reliable E = Enthusiastic D = Doer O = Organized

CREDO C = Communicator

• Communicate Respectfully – Be honest – Do not gossip or joust – Do not swear – Don’t let your appearance detract

• Communicate Efficiently – Respond to Email/phone/texts/pages

• 24 hour rule or “I’ll get back to you”… • Acknowledge all emails in which you have been addressed • RSVP promptly

• Communicate Effectively – Master the Thank You – Craft Agendas for meetings

CREDO R = Reliable

Develop a reputation for being reliable

Reliable = trustworthy

• Be on time • Show up if you said you’d be there • Meet your deadlines • Don’t procrastinate • Be available

– Open office door, if applicable

CREDO E = Enthusiastic

Remember, you are a leader. Act that way!

• Always be positive!

• Vent in private

• Treat everyone with respect – Administrative assistants…

• Support your colleagues

CREDO D = Doer

Get involved

• Be a Team Player

• Attend Seminars, Conferences, and scheduled meetings

• Participate in community events, when applicable

• Give constructive feedback – Complete your evaluations for housestaff, students, applicants, etc.

CREDO D = Doer

Volunteer

• Committees

• Reviews

• Presentations

• Other

• Develop an organizational method that works for you – Email, phone, texts, etc. – Save things (emails, texts, phone numbers, etc.) – Check your (snail) mail and avoid “mailbox overflow”

• Use your smartphone to your advantage – Calendar, email, contacts, tasks, etc.

• Set your out of office when you are away

– And notify the appropriate people if necessary

CREDO O = Organized

Self Reflection

• Think of three ways you will apply CREDO to your academic career.

• Email your reflections to actcredo@gmail.com – Reflections will collected anonymously

• If you send us your reflections, we will send you the

de-identified compilation as well as a copy of the workshop handout

Part 2: Navigating the Politics of Academia Goals and Objectives

Small Groups, Case-Based Format • Understand the reality of academic politics

• Identify possible pitfalls in local politics and describe

possible actions to address the pitfalls

• Describe the skills of individuals who navigate office politics effectively

Part 2: Navigating the Politics of Academia Structure

• Refer to Handout and review Case 1 or Case 2 • 10-15 minutes to discuss each case

– LEFT side: Case 1 – RIGHT side: Case 2

• USE CREDO to approach a resolution in each case

• 10-15 minutes to report the group consensus

He starts the conversation with the comment, “How are things at your institution? I heard some stories from one of our new faculty members about the turmoil in leadership at your institution. What really happened with your leadership?” • How would you answer this question? • What issues should be considered when discussing your

home institution with colleagues outside of the institution? • How do these issues change as our degree of influence

increases both locally and nationally during our career?

Case 1

You are: Approached by a faculty member from another division who requests your participation in a project they are developing (a potentially interesting project)… • How would you approach this situation? • Should local political factors affect how you prioritize your

academic pursuits?

Case 2

Part 3: Networking

Part 3: Successful Networking Goals and Objectives

• Discuss the importance of networking

• Identify some effective networking techniques – At home, at meetings

• Create and deliver an “Elevator Speech”

Part 3: Successful Networking What is it?

• Relationship development with your colleagues

• All levels (junior faculty and senior faculty)

Part 3: Successful Networking Why?

• Increase your opportunities

• Identify and acquire mentorship

• See and be seen

Part 3: Successful Networking Where?

• National Meetings

– Coffee •Mentorship, collaboration

• Local institution

Part 3: Successful Networking How?

• Be prepared

– Bring business cards – Do your homework

• Be in inquisitive when you meet people – Ask what they do

• Talk about yourself! – Craft your Elevator Speech

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

“So, what do you do?”

“Lets set up a meeting and discuss further”…

Part 3: Successful Networking Elevator Speech Tips

• Prepare different lengths – 1 minute, 5 minute, 10 minute

• Keep it simple

– Avoid excessive technical or vague descriptions

• Incorporate your mission statement

• Be enthusiastic!

Part 3: Successful Networking An example

1. In 1-2 sentences, describe how you distinguish yourself/ your passion 2. Circle your major area of focus: Service, Education, Scholarship/

Research, Leadership/ Administrative Activities 3. List 3 things you do well or have accomplished in this domain 4. List 3 things you could do in the next 1-3 years that would lead to

recognition outside your institution. My primary interest is __________________________________________ (insert

#1 above). My primary focus is in ___________________(insert #2 above), where I have _________________________, _______________________________, and ____________________________(insert #3). In the next year, I will focus upon _________________________, ______________________, and ______________________.

Part 3: Successful Networking Practice

• Split into pairs

• Take 10-15 minutes developing and practicing your 1 minute Elevator Speech

• Each person takes a turn

Homework

1. Describe a situation you’ve experienced recently in which someone handled themselves very well, leaving you with a positive impression of them.

2. Describe a situation you’ve experienced recently in which someone handled themselves poorly, leaving you with a poor impression of them.

3. How would an outsider describe your professional image if they were to observe you for a day/week?

4. What areas of improvement would the outsider identify when observing your professional performance?

5. What other tips have you found successful in regards to building an academic reputation locally/regionally/nationally?

Questions?