Page 274 - Just Promoted A 12 Month Road Map for Success in Your New Leadership Role

Creating Your New Life Integration 259

was a bit of a financial strain for Susan and Doug, but they decided that
it was a short-term cost for a longer-term gain.
Doug and Susan both negotiated more flexible work arrangements.
Doug planned his schedule to work in the office from Tuesday through
Friday once they had moved. Susan negotiated a schedule with the hos-
pital during her relocation that allowed her to commute from their cur-
rent home to the hospital on Monday morning and work at home on
Fridays. However, even with all of the extra support Susan had arranged
and with the extra support from Doug, Susan said that the relocation
was very hard on her. Leaving the boys and working long hours during
the week to get established in her new role was difficult. She planned
the time she was away from the family carefully so that she could have
more free time over the weekends when they were all together.
Susan knew that as the CNO, she needed time with her key stake-
holders and to be visible in her new role. She worked with her direct
reports to conduct an early organizational assessment with the help of
an outside consultant. Susan used the time she was in the new city
without her family to do administrative work at night so she could be
more visible during the day or meet with stakeholders and establish
these critical relationships.
The first year was very hard on Doug, Susan, and their sons. Susan
realized that she wasn’t taking good care of herself. She was frequently
eating on the run and not getting enough exercise. She was also feeling
additional stress because of the jump she had made in leading a much
larger staff and learning her new role. Fortunately for Susan, she had
developed a strong relationship with her boss, the COO of the hospital,
who kept expectations high but made every effort to support Susan. The
COO of her new hospital saw Susan as a real asset to the hospital and
wanted to retain her. As Susan got more comfortable with her job and
the family relocated, life became more “normal” for the Sterling family.
Susan began to get more exercise by walking more with the boys, and
she became more focused on taking better care of herself. The first year
of her new assignment was stressful not only for Susan but her entire
family. However, because of the planning they had done and the fact
that they had worked together to make the transition successful, they
were able to reap the benefits of the new opportunity.