153: Uncovering Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in a Leader with Shalisha Grace Maddela, MPH, CPH

The Healthcare QualityCast

Introducing our guest today, Shalisha Grace Maddela, a Performance Improvement Consultant at Stanford Health Care. Wanting to have an impact in healthcare, Shalisha got a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at UC, Davis, and later on, a Master's Degree. In this episode, Shalisha shares her strong drive for quality and performance improvement work as a key factor in her successful journey in the healthcare industry. Top Takeaways [00:44] Oftentimes, the first step can be the most daunting, but if we don't try, we're never going to learn. For the mindset of a Process Improvement professional, there's no such thing as failing, either you find success or you find a lot of points to learn. [06:52] Shalisha also has a strong motivation for volunteering and taking part in different foundations. These experiences have helped her make great connections and give back to society. [09:03] Lessons from moments of failure: It is important to speak to customers and get a good understanding of the root cause of a problem before jumping into solutions. [12:16] Tips for building intimate team connections: "Ethos, Logos, and Pathos". Ethos refers to the ethical appeal and proper alignment with authority. Logos is the logic behind decisions, especially consideration given to data. Pathos is the emotional appeal; this helps with motivation and drive for people to get the work done. Combining these with Performance Improvement was not an easy feat as it took learning through trial and error. [17:23] Best 'Aha' moment: When Shalisha was activated for the Covid-19 response, she realized she could take advantage of her Lean Six Sigma training to improve performance, effect change, and reduce the chaos. [21:03] Current changes across the healthcare industry: With more technological awareness following the pandemic, the pivotal role of people skills and change management will continue to be needed. [22:55] How can the healthcare industry become a more attractive place for ambitious PI professionals? It would involve creating inclusive spaces for diverse talent and working more towards retaining people by showing their passion for retention. This helps people feel desired and valued. Healthcare leaders need to discuss with staff and figure out what they want; even if it can't be done yet, just the process of talking goes a long way. [27:15] The environment at Stanford where people are constantly striving to be better inspires Shalisha to do the same. [28:10] Best career advice: Don't let the fires of the past burn you. Keep moving forward and don't be defined by your errors. [29:24] A successful habit that contributes to success is Feedback. Always getting feedback from her team members, her manager, and even internally with herself promotes growth immensely. [29:50] Website or Application recommendation: Smartsheet [31:00] Professional society or conference recommendation: California Association of Healthcare Leaders (C.A.H.L) [32:34] Book recommendation: "Humble Enquiry" by Edgar H. Schein [32:10] Shalisha's message to herself in the past would be "don't be so hard on yourself, it's going to be okay, and don't be too attached to the idea of what success looks like, you're going to end up in the places you need to be". As for the message to herself in the future, she hopes she is happy and does not forget her roots. [35:04] Final comments from Shalisha: Lead with your humanity. Key Quotes: "Fail early, fail fast, but always fail forward" "If you go out and make an impact or give value, it's going to come back" Connect: Find | Shalisha Grace Maddela LinkedIn – Shalisha Grace Maddela --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/healthcarequalitycast/message