Providence, R.I.--Constance A. Howes, president and CEO of Women & Infants Hospital in Providence and a member of the College's Providence President's Council, presented her views on the topic of leadership on Thursday, November 5.

A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, Howes worked as a lawyer in Providence before beginning her career in hospital administration. During this career transition, she said she learned the importance of adhering to a predefined set of principles and remaining grounded to those principles in the face of adversity and change. 

A self-described "continual learner," Howes said a journey of self-discovery and self-awareness that she underwent earlier in her life was crucial to her very understanding of leadership. She stressed success in this process is dependent on commitment.

To avoid half-hearted attempts at organizational change that end with the status quo, individuals must include concrete supplementary actions such as writing a "personal mission statement" and a set of principles to live by, Howes said.

She said a personal mission statement guides us through life in two ways; it "stands as a testament to our core and its goals, and also impacts how we go about life." Howes noted this two-fold nature to understanding oneself is crucial to effective leadership, which she believes is a highly interpersonal concept.

"Leadership is the act of motivating people to do the right thing better than they would have done it if they were left alone," she said.

As a result, leadership requires the ability to motivate individuals to buy into a mission reflective of the goals of the organization. Furthermore, leadership incorporates conveying an image of what the organization can be.
 
Howes said her own leadership style integrates trust, empowerment, and recognizing the accomplishments of her employees. By recognizing employees "in a particular and meaningful way" for their actions, it empowers individuals to take further action because it builds trust.

This trust is vital because to be a successful leader one must recognize and accept the many times when someone else has a better understanding of the situation, she said. She added that the result is a leadership style not based in micromanaging, but focused on allowing individuals to freely work in a system they have come to stand behind. 

Verizon executive to speak next
Donna C. Cupelo '78, region president, New England for Verizon Communications and a member of the Providence President's Council, will be the Leaders on Leadership presenter on Thursday, November 12.

The class takes place in Room LL12 of Harkins Hall, and the lectures begin at 6:00 p.m. They are open to the College community and the public on a space-available basis. Requests should be made to Lisa Mildner at (401) 865-1821 or lmildner@providence.edu.

-Jake Bissaillon

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