Mission leadership: kicking it up a notch. New competency model positions the mission leader as an indispensable contributor to an organization's identity, strategy and vision.

V chef Emeril Lagasse uses his trademark phrase “kick it up a notch” when he is about to enhance the flavor of a dish with a new ingredient. In a recently completed joint effort between the Catholic Health Association and members of the Catholic health ministry, a revamped competency model “kicks it up a notch” with a revised recipe that redefines mission leadership in the 21st century. where they reflected on the skills most needed by mission leaders to enhance values integration. They used the National Center for Healthcare Leadership’s competency model for health care leaders as a guide. Among the many competencies in that model, this group identified the following as key enablers for their work: change leadership, strategic orientation, innovative thinking, community orientation, talent development and accountability. The process continued through 2008 as CHA convened a focus group with 12 CEOs to determine what they needed most from a mission leader. Their responses showed that CEOs expect not only theological expertise and a basic grasp of the business and operational elements of health care; they also want mission leaders to be able to engage a management team in important value discussions by raising important questions about an organization’s operations. Late in that year, CHA hired The Reid Group of Seattle to facilitate a broad consultative process with mission leaders, CEOs and sponsors. This process consisted of online surveys, telephone interviews with key ministry leaders, and in-person and web-based focus groups. By June 2009, the final draft of the model was presented to 88 mission leaders during the Catholic Health Assembly in New Orleans. The model and the self-assessment tool are now available online at www.chausa.org/missionleader competencies.com. We hope the revised leadership competency model, which is explained in more detail in this article, will provide: