Big-Hearted Leadership with Donn Sorensen: Balance

Originally published on Gazelle Magazine | April 3, 2020

by VICKI FRENCH BENNINGTON

Photo by David Kilper

Balancing your home and personal life with your work life can sometimes be a struggle. But yet, if you don’t work on creating and maintaining that equilibrium, something (or someone) will suffer.

Health care industry leader Donn Sorensen knows how important it is to create the right balance, which will in turn, help you achieve happiness in all areas of your life. And once you’ve achieved your life balance, how do you maintain your balance as a leader?

Sorensen says providing a sound organizational structure that supports your people shows them that you care. The quality of people’s work experience, which will influence the quality of their lives, is tied to the quality of the structure their leader provides. He let us in on some of the principles he’s learned and developed into his own leadership roles over the course of his more than 30-year career.

How can you insure balance within the work place? One way is to define goals and make sure the entire team is working toward those same goals. If you don’t have a good structure in place, your employees will be without direction, goals and accomplishments. This is not a good balance for the employees or for the organization.

How do you know if you have a good structure in place? Simply ask yourself if you are successful as an organization. Are your employees happy because you have the right policies, protocols and procedures? Does the community support and embrace you? If you answer yes to these questions, you are probably on the right track.

How does the organizational method LEAN help a company and its employees stay in balance? Two of LEAN’s core principles are the continual educational development of employees, and granting employees on every level the input into their work processes to halt production if they identify a threat to quality. Originally developed by Toyota of Japan, it eliminates waste, simplifies processes, and maintains only the procedures and actions that add value – but never at the expense of employees. And you don’t have to be in manufacturing for it to work. The method works almost universally – no matter what your business.

How do you project “or sell” a new structure to others? Be confident, always enthusiastic, compassionate and empathetic. Believe in what you are doing, and do it now. Once you’ve provided the proper framework, your people will be happier, and business will improve.

Sorensen’s career has helped to produce many things: success for the health care organization he works for, expanded health care services to more patients, care closer to home, improved patient experience, and the development of management teams with big hearts and a high level of expertise and satisfaction. As executive vice president of operations for Mercy Health and regional president of Mercy’s West region, he works diligently to improve the overall patient experience at Mercy, and to develop strong and compassionate leaders.

Sorensen is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Practice Executives and a former board chair for the American Medical Group Association. For more information on “Big-Hearted Leadership,” visit donnsorensen.com. Sorensen’s book, “Big-Hearted Leadership,” goes into more detail concerning the art of balance, and how finding that magic mix can make for a more satisfying career, a happy, fulfilled life – and a successful and profitable organization.