Blog from Gurusher Panjrath, Professor of Medicine and Director of Advanced Heart Failure
I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to participate in the GW Academic Leadership Academy (GWALA). I am thankful to the GWALA course directors and to all the faculty who took out time to share their experiences and wisdom with us. I am also thankful to SMHS Dean, Dr. Barbara Bass for her support. Over the past few months, I was fortunate to learn from accomplished leaders in their disciplines and with a wide breath of experience. I had the opportunity to meet and make new acquaintances from so many corners of the university which I was not well aware of prior to this course. I learnt not only from the speakers and the course directors but from each participant from their individual and collective experience. With each module, I learnt something new about them, their backgrounds, challenges they faced and the grit and the skill with which they sometimes overcame some of those challenges. Not only did I learn skills to enhance my leadership, interpersonal and organizational skills but this exposure also helped me understand myself in a much greater depth than before. I learnt about my weaknesses and identify the self- awareness and management skills I needed to practice to further improve my emotional intelligence.
This course reinforced to me the dynamic landscape of academia, the ever-changing role of a leader which extends beyond merely overseeing operations; but involves fostering innovation, understanding and empowering teams, and driving positive change and achieving the greater vision for the institution. The academy served as an invaluable platform for honing essential skills vital for navigating the complexities of educational institutions. In particular, these workshops place a strong emphasis on self reflection, leadership, communication, team management, and feedback—pillars that form the cornerstone of effective leadership in academia.
Each passing module and in person session was a master class, a bidirectional process, during which I achieved a greater understanding of what I needed to be able to inspire, motivate, and guide others towards a shared vision. The interactive sessions and real-life case examples from the speakers and other participants, cultivated skills for strategic decision-making, conflict resolution, and fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. We learnt the significance of leading by example and leveraging diverse perspectives to drive institutional excellence.
Communication stands as the bedrock of effective leadership. GWALA placed an emphasis on mastering both verbal and non-verbal communication techniques, active listening, and the art of persuasion. Through exercises on constructive feedback, I was further able to refine my communication styles, ensuring that my message resonates with various stakeholders, from faculty members to students and administrators.
Team management within academic settings demands a nuanced approach. In particular the tips and skills imparted on managing up, both during the sessions but also by key note speakers while they shared their personal experiences were invaluable. I intend to foster a culture of trust, transparency and accountability as a pivot to be a better leader and further my professional growth.
Feedback, when delivered effectively, serves as a catalyst for growth and development. With a heavy focus on feedback, GWALA underscored the importance of providing timely, constructive feedback and learn to strike a delicate balance between offering praise and addressing areas for development, ensuring feedback is both motivational and actionable.
All the skills learnt are already helping my pursue some key projects I am undertaking. While one of the projects, I had shared during the early days of starting GWALA, is still in its infancy, some of the people management skills and building collaboration skills are already coming handy. I have become better in “reading the room”, being more inclusive and avoiding steps which would jeopardize the success of the project. While I was in GWALA, I took additional responsibilities, and learning to be more self aware and and identifying myself with the greater vision is helping me immensely towards leading in those roles better.
The GWALA experience has been transformative, and has further empowered me with the skills and insights necessary to navigate the complexities of leadership in educational institutions.