How we’re helping nurses become leaders

Leaders aren’t born, they’re developed.

That’s why Asante established the Asante Frontline Leadership Enrichment Coalition, a leadership development program that offers frontline staff opportunities for personal and professional growth. Organizational Development and Nursing teams have worked together to build a program that engages and grows high-performing employees.

Originating as a small grassroots program in 2015, AFLEC has incrementally expanded throughout the years to become a systemwide program with over 90 participants. Frontline staff from all Nursing service lines, Nursing Operations and Respiratory Therapy are invited to apply to the six-month program each spring. Participants with potential for growth in the organization are hand selected by the leadership team to participate.

The program’s curriculum includes a variety of leadership topics, from organizational priorities to communication fundamentals, personality styles, business basics, feedback, financial awareness and leadership styles.

Kristi Frederick, senior Organizational and Leadership Development consultant, facilitates the curriculum and guides participants throughout the program. Kristi’s sincere support and investment in the participants is part of what makes the program such a huge success.

During the six-month program, participants also work with interdepartmental teams to complete a project that addresses an organizational problem. The teams of participants have dedicated Nursing directors to help navigate them implementing their project. While many projects have impressive outcomes, the program’s focus is not on tangible outcomes but rather the learning and growth of each participant.

In the past seven years, AFLEC participants have gone on to take leadership roles in their own departments and throughout the organization. Some participants have pursued formal leadership roles, such as charge/lead, supervisor or manager. Others have taken career opportunities in Nursing Professional Development, Case Management, Infection Prevention, advanced practice degrees, and teaching college courses or practicums.

AFLEC is designed to help participants find growth that is meaningful to each individual and offer support in developing skills that will carry them forward.