Leaders Name Books That Made an Impact

A common denominator for those in top leadership positions at Cleveland Clinic is that they embrace a growth mindset. Beyond the tasks they perform day to day, they also continually strive to find new ways to think about their roles and inspire their teams.

Enter: books.

We asked five Cleveland Clinic executive leaders to name a book that has become a dog-eared favorite in terms of its impact on how they think about their career. Here’s what they said.

K. Kelly Hancock, Chief Caregiver Officer

Dr. Hancock, who is often the beneficiary of books as gifts, was intrigued by the title of Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Heart.

“I know inherently that you must be brave, courageous and confident as a leader, but it’s never that easy,” Hancock says. “In my opinion, it is about having the courage to recognize that sometimes it is hard. “

Dr. Hancock received the book from colleague and mentor MaryBeth Modic, DNP, RN, FAAN.

“She gave it to me as a way of thanking for me for supporting her work in developing our professional nursing colleagues through a leadership enrichment experience,” Dr. Hancock says. “She also wanted to inspire me to consider applying to become a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).

“As leaders, at times we forget about the profound impact we have on those we serve, as well as on our profession,” Dr. Hancock adds. “Reading this book reminded me of the importance of allowing myself to be vulnerable while reflecting on my contributions, and having the courage to give myself permission to celebrate those accomplishments. One of the ways I did that was through my submission of my application to be considered a FAAN. I was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing as a fellow in 2018.”

Among several passages that made an impact, Dr. Hancock says, was this: Courage is contagious. To scale daring leadership and build courage in teams and organizations, we have to cultivate a culture in which brave work, tough conversations, and whole hearts are the expectation, and armor is not necessary or rewarded.

“One of the founding principles of my role as Chief Caregiver Officer was to help build on our teams-of-teams culture,” Dr. Hancock says. “In order to build healthy, strong, effective teams, you first need to support a culture where people can be vulnerable to do so. We want everyone to come into our organization each day and be their true best self.”

Chad Minor, Associate Chief Caregiver Officer & Chief of Workforce Strategies

Minor selected Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth, founder and CEO of Character Lab, a nonprofit that advances scientific insights to help children.

“Grit uses research and application-based science to discuss resilience, ambition, self-control and other key attributes that are essential for long-term success as a leader,” Minor says. “It was fascinating to read about people, companies and examples of grit, and to learn how you can apply some of those same principles to your own leadership.

“I read the book a few months after it was released, and it resonated with me both from a professional and personal standpoint,” Minor adds. “When we are young, we learn about loss and resilience and persistence in formative years, and that can change how you think, act and ultimately lead. Looking back, it would have been helpful to re-read the book during the height of the pandemic. Given everything we have faced as humanity, this book provides optimism in unconventional ways.”

Minor selected Duckworth’s book above others because it challenges the reader to value “the experiences you endure, your expectation of excellence, and how you manage change,” he says. “I am fortunate to be leading through a disruptive era in which concepts like remote work are still new. The philosophies in Grit remind me to keep going.

Other books Minor has liked include:

• Remote Work Revolution by Tsedal Neeley
• Futureproof by Kevin Roose
• Think Again by Adam Grant
• Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
• Start With Why by Simon Sinek

Don Corpora, Chief of HR Services

Corpora regards Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, by K. Patterson, J. Grenny, R. McMillan, and A. Switzler as essential reading for leaders and managers. He first read the book around 2004, in the aftermath of a labor strike at a previous workplace.

“I found it particularly helpful while reflecting on what events led to the two-week work stoppage, and I gained an appreciation of how to best move the organization forward,” Corpora says. “Over the years, I’ve found myself returning to this book for guidance on a variety of situations, both at work and in my personal life.

Facing conflict is among the key messages.

“Conflict in the workplace occurs in many different forms, and when left unattended creates dissention within and among teams,” Corpora says. “As a human resources professional, especially for those of us who provide guidance to managers, this book is perhaps the most recognized in our field. Crucial Conversations gives practical advice to recognize conflict in the workplace and offers the reader a better understanding of its sources as well as a variety of plans to effectively respond.”

Corpora says he focuses his reading on non-fiction – specifically, biographies, history and socio-economics.

“Biographies and history give perspective and an appreciation for the people and events that helped shape our country and the world today,” he says. “Socio-economics helps me with the realization that while we continue to evolve as a human species, our fundamental needs, goals and motivation for achieving them tend to remain unchanged.”

Gina Cronin, Chief Talent Officer

Cronin calls The Speed of Trust by Steven M. R. Covey “an indispensable read for every leader,” and credits it with inspiring new thinking about the importance of trust – personally and organizationally.

“Covey creates an approachable model that distills down the power of trust in the workplace,” Cronin says. “The book teaches how to create that trust, which in turn increases the speed of our teams to achieve our goals and vision at every level.”

Cronin says she read The Speed of Trust as she was moving from a role as an institute administrator for Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute into the newly restructured Global Leadership & Learning Institute.

“I was thrust onto a whole new learning curve and had to quickly gain different skills and new knowledge. It was daunting,” she says. “Aside from being a novice in the area of leadership development, I needed to build a team of talented experts who could collaborate and create in new ways. The Speed of Trust was very inspiring, and provided core tenets to follow. The key to our success in GLLI has been in creating a fantastic team culture that is able to serve our caregivers and leaders with fabulous programs.”

Among her favorite takeaways from the book:

• Trust has to be the highest value in your company. If it is not, something bad is going to happen to you. — Marc Benioff, entrepreneur and founder of Salesforce.
• Covey’s “Guiding Framework”: The four cores of credibility that build trust are Integrity and Intent and Capabilities and Results. The first two define your character and the last two define your competency. You must have all four to thrive and build individual trust with others.

Other favorites on Cronin’s bookshelves include The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni and Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek.

Meredith Foxx, Executive Chief Nursing Officer

An inveterate reader, Foxx, MSN, MBA, APRN, NEA-BC, PCNS-BC, PPCNP-BC, CPON has kept Howard E. Ferguson’s book The Edge around since 1992, when her parents gave it to her for Christmas. Retired wrestling coach Ferguson pulled together inspirational messages about success. It’s geared toward athletes, but the advice translates to all of life, Foxx says.

“I have pulled out this book regularly during my schooling and in my career,” Foxx says. “It has moved to every home and office with me. The contents are about character, setting goals, preparing, “game-time,” and the game of life. I still have Post-Its and bookmarks from reading it in high school, college, graduate school and different points in my career.”

Among the most returned-to quotes, she says: Accept responsibility for yourself. If you’re wrong, admit it, take the blame and get on with it. Don’t dwell on the past. You can only change the present. Be responsible for others with whom you’re involved. Do your best to help them reach their goals.

Foxx also responds to a story about an athlete who was expected to have big success in baseball until he was drafted for WWII and sustained a war-related injury that left him blind.

“Rather than this being a setback, he viewed it as adjusting to meet life’s demands,” Foxx says. “He changed course and learned to golf, and went on to win many championships for golfers who are blind. He adjusted to life’s demands rather than wondering what might have been.”