A Story From The Balcony
Introduction
Leadership! My actions left me questioning my ability. The rationale behind those actions was similar to those of the Colonials in the American Revolution, standing their ground and creating their own rules of engagement with the British. Could they have read, “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu? I don’t know, but on that infamous Thursday when I was ambushed and bludgeoned, the lessons from that book raced through my mind, giving me the strength to strike back. So, now, I stand on the balcony, in control and with new appreciation and understanding for my teammates.
Were my actions adaptive? Did I exercise adaptive leadership? Was I a team player? To understand my behavior and answer those questions, I need to start in the beginning—my first classes at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). The importance of common language and culture was immediately clear. The task of tackling “health disparity” gave me the sense that HSPH was a school where social justice was important. In those first few weeks, I learned genes were not the most important determinant of health outcomes but rather socio-environmental factors or more precisely, society.
This realization opened a new world; it was as if I had gained a sixth sense. I gained a sense of awareness, the ability to connect disparate acts revealing patterns of behaviors and recurrent themes. A disconnect existed between the lessons taught in class and the reality of being a Black mid-career student at HSPH. At this great institution, I felt the climate and traditional approaches were contributing factors to the growing health and economic disparities among racial groups and socio-economic status (SES).
One class, “From Theory to Action”, was an illustration of that disconnect. The challenge creating innovative solutions to decrease the epidemic rates of Chlamydia infection in Afro-American teenagers and young adults in Boston. This was an impossible task given the time constraints, our baseline knowledge, and limited access to vital information. In my opinion, we should have analyzed the city’s current programs and their effectiveness. Here was an opportunity to talk not just about health disparities and race, but also to understand the perspectives of those affected. Instead, our impossible project created tension undermining a great opportunity to practice adaptive leadership on all levels and dimensions.
Health disparities are adaptive problems. Their roots are deeply entrenched in race and class, making it almost impossible to recognize our contributing roles in these problems and more importantly, our obligation to do more than discuss these issues. In an article, The Theory Behind the Practice, Jeff Lawrence was quoted, “There is no such thing as a dysfunctional organization, because every organization is perfectly aligned to achieve the results it gets.” This statement challenges HSPH (and all other entities) to stop talking, to start tackling the issues of health disparities. There should be discomfort with increasing recognition of our contributing role in perpetuating these problems. This discomfort should translate into action. That is my definition of “Leadership in Public Health: From Theory to Action.”
HSPH is a classic example of Failure to Listen–unwittingly or not–doing harm, reinforcing stereotypes and quite frankly, speaking from both ends. However, I entered the lower rungs, placing me within arm distance of those making ‘the decisions’–my fantasy and delusion as the story continues, with The Disconnect.
A Story From The Balcony: The Disconnect | Part 2
A Story From the Balcony: Group Dynamics | Part 3
I agree –there should be discomfort in our increasing recognition. There is and will be discomfort in creating a greater dialog in addressing the disparity that exists. But I think it’s a matter of acknowledging that discomfort and letting it go in order to address the problem. That not only needs to be done on a societal level, but also on an individual level.
You mentioned that the task you were given was impossible and undermined the opportunity to practice adaptive leadership. I wonder how much of the limiting factors were intentionally (or have been perpetually) in place and to what extent they are an overall ‘societal norm.’ In other words, are the obstacles in place purposefully, or are they the result of society’s determination to keep the blinders on and in place?
A great, thought provoking article. I look forward to reading more.
If you don’t experience discomfort you will never change… To me I always question statistics, I think they are generally used to support a stance, reflecting the outcome that is desired, not creating discomfort, and not creating the need for change…
Hi Shauna,
Great observation! Goes back to that quote.
The people using those stats know what they are doing. They like their POWER–keep the masses divided and confused; stress them to apathy; dim the lights so they will not see clearly… 🙂
Thanks for your comment.
Angela
Very interesting post. Thanks Angela
Thank you Mohammad for your comments. Best, Angela
Good luck Angela
All the best
Mohammad
Thank you Mohammad
Hi Joe, “A great, thought provoking article. I look forward to reading more” …that you made more thought provoking with your comments. Thank you.
You bring up new perspectives — could these obstacles, significant numbers of them be intentional, planned? At one point, I may have unequivocally said, NO! Today, I think those obstacles are structural parts of society that institutionalized and exacerbate interpersonal biases.
I appreciate your comments.
Angela
I truly admire the depth of this perception. It takes great humility to see the invisible.
I’m looking forward to the continuation of your thoughtful commentary
Hi Altresco,
Thank you for your comments and I too look forward to more of your comments. 🙂
Regards,
Angela
Adaptability is the most productive thing in every situation, but it is also a difficult trait to cultivate. There are professional distractions ..
A nicely written article
Thank you Mike. I like the term professional distractions, what do you mean? -Angela
Hello Angela. Nice read. Yes, you can.
I am glad you liked it. A friend mentioned I should make the entire series into a memoir….perhaps one day the entire year.
Too late, you already have.
TY