Analysis of Ontario hospital and leadership strategic priorities

As an ongoing discipline, Proximity analyzes all published Ontario hospital strategic plans.

The exercise provides deep insight into leadership thinking and leadership voice expressed through strategic intention on priorities that matter most. Proximity can see each individual hospital strategic plan in an absolute sense, its construct and its content and compare an existing plan against a new plan to chart strategic evolution and change. Comparative analysis across all hospital plans illuminates trends, patterns, and transformation sector wide, as do shifts in the use of language and the evolution of beliefs and values.

This rich analysis informs Proximity’s work on the priorities that matter most to Ontario hospital leaders. Strategic insights emanating from this analysis are shared with hospital leadership to catalyze discussion, exploration, reflection and action, and ultimately contribute to Proximity’s purpose of enabling effective leadership.

Understanding the composite profile of Ontario hospital CEOs

There have been significant shifts in the demographics, professional backgrounds and leadership journeys of Ontario hospital CEOs. Over the past two years, Proximity data on the trended profile of all current Ontario hospital CEOs tells us that the representation of nurses and other clinicians is increasing while the representation of physicians is decreasing; women now outnumber men; and non-clinical administrators are declining.

Proximity seeks to understand these trends and what the impact might be at the sectoral level if the complement of Ontario hospital CEOs shifts one way or another.

Exploration of leadership practices, problems and dilemmas in Ontario hospitals

Proximity brings together Ontario hospitals and leading academic researchers to better understand the contextual realities of the hospital sector and ensuing leadership practices, problems and dilemmas. Active research includes:

• How top leadership teams regenerate beyond the COVID-19 pandemic led by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Exploration of the leadership journeys of women Ontario hospital CEOs jointly with the Ivey Business School at Western University
• An exploration of hospital culture, root causes of staff burnout and what leaders have agency to influence spearheaded by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (YCEI)

CEOs Out Front Network:
Accelerating the leadership journey of Ontario hospital CEOs new to the role

CEOs Out Front is a peer leadership development network for Ontario hospital CEOs new to the role that is designed to accelerate their CEO journey. In a series of conversations, seasoned Ontario hospital CEOs who have a rich understanding of the role engage with network members on minefields and challenges they wish someone had told them about when they first onboarded as CEO. Conversation themes have included: navigating political context; building the right leadership team; exploring strategy and strategic dilemmas; and establishing personal brand.

These conversations serve as the foundation of a trust-based peer network for Ontario hospital CEOs.

Accountable Leadership:
Equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racism

Proximity examined accountable leadership through a short film that features four Ontario hospital CEOs and one board chair who share a determination and commitment to strategically prioritize equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racism at their respective organizations. The film and accompanying discussion guide are designed for Ontario hospital CEOs to catalyze generative conversation with their boards and senior leadership teams and ultimately drive leadership accountability for these issues.

CEO Succession and Talent Readiness

Too often the practice of discussing and preparing for CEO succession beyond interim bridging is left until a CEO announces their retirement or moves on more abruptly, leaving boards scrambling and organizations in distress. While the board owns the CEO succession process and decision, the incumbent CEO plays a critical role in identifying, developing and readying high potential talent within their organization.

Proximity has developed a suite of resources on CEO transitions for Ontario hospitals that anticipate a top leadership succession event in the near term or are proactively informing and readying themselves in advance of a future CEO succession event.