A mission-focused culture begins at the top

As a young fellow starting out at the National Cancer Institute, I often found myself struggling under the weight of uncertainty and worry. I worried about whether I was making the right calls in my research, whether I was missing something critical or whether I was really cut out for the work and career ahead. Sometimes that uncertainty could be paralyzing.

What I didn’t know then was that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. Over the years, I’ve learned that leadership starts not with certainty but with self-awareness.

The key I was missing early on was that leadership begins by learning to lead one person first — yourself — and to do so with authenticity, humility and a clear sense of purpose.

As I’ve reflected on my own “self-leadership” evolution, I’ve distilled key principles that others can apply.

Balancing self and organizational growth

As the president and CEO of a high-volume, comprehensive cancer center, it’s critical to find the right balance as a leader — investing in my own growth and development in a way that sets the tone for the entire organization. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that you can influence others, but the only thing you truly control is your own response, whether it be to good news, bad news or the inevitable pressures of this work. That self-awareness is the foundation for effective leadership.

Personally, I invest in my leadership development in several ways, including practicing reflection and gratitude. I set aside time for uninterrupted quiet moments — journaling, introspection and simply sitting with my thoughts before entering a room or joining a meeting.

It’s easy for leaders to get caught up in external validation, but lasting leadership starts with understanding your own motivation and staying grounded in your purpose. Part of that is knowing the difference between being a good listener and a people pleaser. Listening includes being open to other perspectives that might make you and the organization better. Pleasing is driven by the need for approval, which can ultimately pull you away from your purpose. It’s a balance between valuing feedback without letting it dictate your identity as a leader.

Focusing on shared purpose

Although leading yourself first is step one, it’s not the end goal. The next step is cultivating an environment where everyone in your organization is aligned and inspired by one shared purpose. At Moffitt Cancer Center, our mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. When we model clarity and consistency around that purpose from the top, it cascades throughout the organization.

But a mission is only meaningful if it’s lived daily. That’s why I conduct regular listening tours with teams across the cancer center. These are not just opportunities to reiterate our mission but to engage in active listening, the heartbeat of leadership. True listening is not about waiting for your turn to speak; it’s about learning. I’ve gained invaluable insights from front-line staff, patients, board members and researchers — perspectives that ultimately make our organization stronger.

Living the mission with calm and authenticity

Leadership in healthcare is not for the faint of heart. The stakes are high, the pace is relentless and uncertainty is guaranteed. But I’ve learned that worry doesn’t help. It drains energy and clouds judgment. What does help is staying composed under pressure and modeling that calm for your team. When leaders stay grounded, others feel safe, focused and empowered to do their best work.

At the same time, authentic leadership requires compassion and humility. As Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu reminds us, “The worst leaders, the people despise; the good leaders, people praise and say what a great leader they are. But the truly best leaders elevate others without them knowing, and the people say, ‘We did this ourselves.’” That’s the kind of leader I aspire to be, one who creates the conditions for success and lets others shine.

A mission-driven culture starts with you

Effective leadership begins with one person: yourself. Before you can lead others and inspire your organization’s culture, you first need to lead yourself with authenticity, self-awareness and purpose. For healthcare leaders hoping to nurture mission-driven teams, I offer these reminders:

Lead yourself first. Understand your motivations, check your ego and focus on how you show up as a leader.
Make self-awareness a priority. Reflect on your values, your purpose and how you can best serve your team.
Live your mission daily. Align your choices, big and small, with your organization’s purpose.
Engage in active listening. Seek out feedback and perspectives from every level of your organization, not just to respond, but to learn.
Model with consistency and calm. Your steadiness under pressure helps build trust and resilience throughout your teams.

I encourage my peers reading this to pause and ask: Are you truly living your mission? How are you helping others within your organization to do the same? It starts with leading from within. That’s how we build healthcare organizations where every team member feels valued, connected to purpose and empowered to make a difference.

Dr. Patrick Hwu is CEO at Moffitt Cancer Center, a leading cancer hospital based in Tampa, Fla.

The post Moffitt CEO: Start with one — cultivating mission-driven leadership in healthcare appeared first on Becker’s Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.