By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

Rising stars in the workplace and in the profession…we all know who they are and the contributions that they make to group.  It would be a cliché to say that those entering a profession are the future of the organization, and we all know that it is true.   To ensure that nurse anesthesiologists continue to be valued members of the healthcare community, a combination of solid workers and rising stars are essential.

Ask any Chief Anesthetist who the “go to” people are in the workgroup, and they quickly point out the all-stars.   Likewise, ask any program director to identify students most likely to move into leadership positions at the State level and they will instinctively point out the rising stars in the class.  What is a rising star and what do they look like?

Writing in the Inc.com blog, author Scott Mautz discusses the characteristics of people who are rising stars in the workplace or the profession

• Ability to adapt (resilience) Rising stars are always moving forward and are not stopped by speedbumps along the way.  Their vision for the future is more important than a temporary setback and glitches only motivate the rising star to find a solution.
• Zeal for improvement The status quo may be good enough for today, but rising stars have a vision for the future and have a keen eye for establishing new policies and streamlining the workflow.   They move beyond having a concept and develop a plan for implementing change.
• Ability to influence Rising stars tend to be the “go to” person in the group and are often referred to as the influence leader.   They may or may not have a title in the group but they have a powerful influence on the mood and motivation of the group.
• Powerful presence When a rising star enters a room, everyone knows it, usually in a positive way.  The rising star instills confidence in others and makes the group believe that challenges can be conquered.
• Both EQ and IQ Emotional intelligence is a buzz word in the business community and organizations are using EQ evaluation when selecting new hires.  In nurse anesthesiology, many training programs are incorporating EQ assessment into the selection process for students.   The rising star tends to be intelligent, visionary and can blend IQ with EQ when working with others.
• Solid decision-making Rising stars know what they want to accomplish, believe that it is possible and are not shy about making decisions to support the goal.

In 2016 I had the privilege of meeting a rising star in our profession.  While attending an AANA leadership summit in Chicago, I was introduced to Julie Linton, a senior SRNA interested in leadership and doing a great job networking with others at the meeting.  Three short years later while speaking at the West Virginia State association meeting, I became re-acquainted with Julie who was serving as the president of the West Virginia association.   In three short years, she progressed from new graduate to State president.  Recently, I recorded a podcast with Julie and learned about rapid journey to leadership.   Click here to listen to the podcast.

Listen to Julie Linton’s podcast about her path to leadership

Some people are born with an outgoing personality, but nobody is born with leadership skills.   Rising star status is something that can be achieved through mindful practice.  The biospace.com blog offers tips for behaviors that will make you a rising star at work or in your life.  

• Know when to listen.  We live in an electronic world where texting is easier than talking.  Take time for conversation and view it as a chance to listen and learn.  You don’t learn anything new when you state your opinion, you only learn when you listen.
• Give credit when credit is due.  When others have good ideas give them full credit and then build upon the foundation that they have provided.  Engage the other person as a collaborator rather than a competitor.
• Be agile.  Those who are agile can move through awkward situations gracefully.  Be respectful of the feelings of others and seek collaboration when dealing with difficult situations.
• Be honest.  Honesty is a value that is essential when building trust between individuals.  You will never be trusted as a go to person or viewed as a rising star if you are dishonest.
• Come up with a new idea.  There is a solution to every challenge and the best ideas arise from many ideas.   Brainstorm with colleagues, listen and learn from others, and develop a new approach to the problem.
• Bring solutions, not problems.  Asset-based thinking is built upon identifying the resources that you have and doing the best that you can with them.  Avoid whining about what you lack and create a solution with what you have.
• Make yourself available.  You must be present to win.  Enter the room with a positive attitude and a presence that inspires confidence from others.   Say yes when asked to participate and follow-up quickly when asked to do a task.
• Be a doer.   Achieving is an active sport and requires participation.  You may have great ideas, however, if you want to be a rising star you must put them into motion.  The person who sits back and says “they ought to” will never be recognized as an achiever.

My friend Julie Linton is a rising star, but she is not unique.  We are in a profession with many talented and intelligent people who can take us into the future.  Julie has mastered many of the traits listed above and will be a great role model for future rising stars.   Click here and enjoy the podcast describing Julie’s experience as a rising star.

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.