Leadership at all levels: Increasing leadership capacity and culture in an era of decreasing resources

In 2007, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) initiated a Quality Improvement Program (QIP). Leadership development was viewed as an essential element of assuring a competent public health workforce leading to accreditation, so a leadership team was created. The Leadership QIP team conducted root cause analysis and an employee survey to identify barriers for leadership development as well as solutions to changing the institutional culture to support leadership development.

Analysis indicated that ISDH employees valued leadership development, regardless of position or title. Sharing that vision, the team developed a three-tiered curriculum to teach leadership skills to supervisors and managers and subsequently all employees to build leadership capability, which was supported by ISDH executive staff.

Offered in 2008, over 70 participants completed the first core course, indicating support at the grass roots level as well as the executive level. Core course participants met for eleven weekly sessions that included lecture presentations, group discussions and activities, and self-assessments to build leadership skills and provide insight and solutions to typical barriers that exist in a state agency. Sessions were held twice weekly to accommodate schedules. Course development and instruction was accomplished with a budget of less than $2000 and included material from several different, widely recognized sources. Course survey data indicate that participants implemented skills learned. Planning is underway to offer the core course and a new intermediate course in 2009 and an advanced course in 2010.