Becoming Our Best Selves

Over the course of five months, Council Fellows engage in nine experiential learning sessions on topics ranging from cost of care and health equity to innovation and market segments. The program culminates in a two-day, future-forward planning intensive where cohort members discern collective opportunities to achieve impact at scale. The heart of day one of Fellows Closing retreat programming centered on coaching, inspiration and strategic tactics to help each participant become their best self as a leader.  

Michael Burcham's Tips To Be Your Best Self

Michael Burcham, Council Fellows Chair, Chief of Strategy and Talent Development for Shore Capital Partners continued his presentation on effective leadership with an overview of three core elements that can help individuals become the best versions of themselves. Uplifting personal growth as an imperative—both to retain relevance and to prevent stagnation—he counseled Fellows on the importance of: 

1. Being intentional, adopting a daily mindset beyond “what’s on my to-do list” and instead investing more of ourselves in thoughtful choices, purposeful words/actions and viewing each morning as a new opportunity.  
2. Having focus, specifically in cultivating the self-discipline to concentrate on what matters and ignore those things that don’t. Burcham also reminded Fellows that our ability to focus is a muscle that can be built up over time.
3. Taking action, rather than ruminating on desire and/or making plans but never setting goals and taking steps to achieve them.   

Noting that “we never have all the facts—and if we wait until we have 90% of the information, we’re just reacting, not deciding,” Burcham encouraged Fellows to adopt the Action Rule of 5 in their own personal and professional lives: Every day, do one thing that will move you closer to your goal, outlining five concrete action steps each week and taking one per day. 

“Even if you accomplish just 1-2 things each week, that’s more than most people do in a month,” said Burcham. “And you’ll likely exceed your goal.” 

Finally, Burcham walked cohort participants through a step-by-step process to determine their own mission and vision statements, as well as identifying five core values that guide and direct their behavior. He also shared planning tools with Fellows to create actionable roadmaps around personal and professional growth areas, offering strategic insights to help Fellows cultivate both the self-discipline and the peer networks to realize the best possible versions of themselves.   

Following the presentation, Fellows were given dedicated time to reflect on, and draft initial versions of, their governing values and personal mission and vision statements. After reconvening, each classmate had the opportunity to share their drafted statements and one chosen core value with the cohort at large, highlighting similarities in both the aspirations and guiding principles driving this year’s Fellows class forward.   

Day one concluded with a celebratory cocktail reception on the rooftop of the Kimpton Aertson Hotel, affording Fellows the chance for further reflection on their shared mission statements, as well as the opportunity to network with Council Board members and other NHCC stakeholders.