“Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” John C. Maxwell
There will be times as a leader that you will come to a fork in the road. Where you are in a crisis or when you are dealing with failure. It is a test of will as you question why you are here or why you were chosen. It doesn’t matter if you are leading one person or a large corporation, often you are tested and you question yourself based on the outcomes of your strategies and decisions. I am at that point in my leadership journey as the first DEI Officer of Berkshire Health. I am on a journey and plotting a course in uncharted waters. I have come to understand in my life that failure is a part of learning and growing but it doesn’t mean I look for it or enjoy experiencing it.
Failure frustrates me. No one can be harder on me than me. Often it is that fear of failure that can prevent me from taking chances. I have gotten better at getting past that fear but there are times like now that it has been getting more difficult. I had a recent leadership assessment and instead of looking at it as an opportunity. I saw it as a map to why I am struggling to be successful in my role. It sounds silly I am sure but for me that teenage voice of mine was winning the battle, and I was ready to give up. But as always and at the right time I could hear my mother’s voice talking to me.
I was reminded of how my mother would not let failures stop her from raising her sons in hopes of providing them with opportunities for success. I was reminded of my friend and mentor Laura Douglass giving me my first opportunity as a leader at Baystate Health on Wesson 4. Her and that team turned me into a leader. I remember my Chief Nurse Officer at Baystate Franklin Leesa-Lee Keith who gave me my first manager and director job for the emergency department and behavioral health. She took me under her wing to help me grow. When I lost my will to lead Jennifer Cavagnac and the amazing Clinical Documentation Integrity team at Baystate helped me find the will to lead again. It was that journey that led me to Berkshire Health as I was given the opportunity to become the first DEI leader. It was the amazing people at Fairview Hospital like Doreen Hutchinson and the Berkshire Health CEO Darleen Rodowicz that helped me to continue to grow.
I have been blessed with being able to cross paths with some amazing people, especially in my community of Berkshire County. I have gotten to know some dedicated people who are doing some great work to help those who need support. I am blessed to be a partner with them. Then there is my family. I have been blessed with 3 children who show strength, leadership and resilience. I would like to take all the credit for that, but they were blessed with a mother who instilled values in them that make them the people they are today.
“It’s about one life influencing another.” I could not have said it better. I hope I have influenced the many lives that have changed me in the same way. They gave me hope when I doubted. They gave me strength not to surrender and faith when I thought all was lost.
This post is my letter to all of you who have influenced me.
Thank you
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 