Cindy Maupin, Ph.D., assistant professor of management, teaches “Leadership and Group Dynamics” among a number of other courses. In this course, she places an emphasis on developing interpersonal skills, teamwork, and a keen awareness of how to lead and work with groups. Recently, Jeremy Blanchard, M.D., joined her class and shared his views on leadership.
On April 6, Jeremy Blanchard, M.D., MMM, CPE, visited Cindy Maupin’s Management 495 class. The class is termed “Leadership and Group Dynamics” with an emphasis on developing and discerning leadership skills.
Blanchard has served as a chief medical officer in two rural healthcare systems at the regional and U.S. Army Medical Corps for 11 years.
In speaking to the class, he emphasized two types of leadership: authoritarian and servant/leader.
Blanchard also modeled the characteristics of an effective meeting, and he opened class by asking for a verbal contract of confidentiality between himself and the class, telling them they could ask him anything they wanted, with the hope they would guarantee confidentiality on their end as well. He emphasized trust and respect as two essential qualities of a leader.
“How many of you did something nice for someone today without them knowing?” he asked the class. Almost all the students raised their hands. “A true leader serves other people,” he continued.
He offered real-world examples of problems and solutions that have come up for him over the years in healthcare management. “The more right things you do, the easier it is to keep doing it,” he said.
His most valuable point was advice on how to navigate a situation with someone or a team where there is no mutual respect. “Try to find one good thing about someone you don’t like or don’t respect,” he said. “It will help with resolving the conflict.”
He assured the students of their future success and encouraged them to learn to listen.
“Your journey is yours so have fun,” he said. “Life is a journey, not a destination.”
Blanchard completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Montana and his medical studies at the University of New Mexico. He has a master’s degree in medical management from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.