Navigating Leadership Transitions in Healthcare

Leadership transitions are pivotal moments for any organization, requiring a thoughtful and strategic approach to ensure continuity and success. For OSF HealthCare, founded by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis and headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, supporting leadership succession during a period of significant growth was a top priority. With operations spanning 16 hospitals across Illinois and Michigan and more than 24,000 Mission Partners, OSF HealthCare partnered with TLD Group to prepare for these transitions. Paul Erdahl, PhD, LP, a seasoned TLD Group executive coach and succession expert, guided this complex process to help ensure long-term leadership effectiveness.

Addressing the Challenges of Leadership Succession
The impending retirement of a long-serving C-suite leader marked the beginning of an important leadership development effort at OSF HealthCare. To support the transition, TLD Group’s Paul Erdahl worked with key stakeholders to assess the evolving C-suite leadership needs, using tools and strategies designed to evaluate potential and readiness of internal candidates to replace the retiring executive. Through a structured assessment process, including psychometric evaluations and interviews, Paul provided insights that shaped the organization’s approach to succession.

Simultaneously, confidential preparations began for additional transitions at the highest levels of leadership. Paul collaborated with a select group of senior stakeholders to define the core success factors for these roles. Assessments, feedback discussions, and leadership coaching sessions became essential components of a development plan designed to strengthen the organization’s leadership pipeline.

Guiding a Comprehensive Assessment and Readiness Process
Paul’s approach centered on using validated psychometric assessment tools to evaluate leadership potential and fit for future roles. These tools included:

• The Motives, Values, and Preferences Inventory (MVPI) to uncover core motivators.
• The Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI) to assess key personality traits affecting leadership performance.
• The Hogan Development Survey (HDS) to identify behaviors that could hinder success under stress.

By integrating these assessments, Paul provided a holistic understanding of each internal candidates' strengths, developmental areas, and alignment with leadership requirements. This data informed ongoing coaching efforts designed to prepare the candidates for success.

Creating a Clear Leadership Development Plan
Beyond assessments, Paul collaborated with internal succession candidates to co-create their individual development plans aimed at building leadership readiness. Development goals were defined and targeted coaching to refine leadership capabilities was implemented.

Outcomes: Progress Toward a Seamless Transition
OSF Healthcare’s leadership transitions are ongoing. The structured process has provided the organization with a thoughtful approach to succession planning. By focusing on internal development and creating a clear roadmap for leadership continuity, the organization has reinforced its long-term stability and growth. The continued investment in coaching and leadership readiness ensures that OSF HealthCare is well-prepared for any future changes.

Reflections on Professional Growth
For Paul, this engagement has been a meaningful opportunity to deepen his contributions to healthcare leadership development. “Working with OSF HealthCare has been incredibly rewarding,” Paul reflects. “It’s an honor to partner with senior leaders to optimize leadership performance and facilitate successful transitions.”

Looking Ahead: Opportunities in Leadership Development
Paul is eager to continue supporting leadership teams in navigating critical transitions and optimizing performance. He is particularly passionate about leveraging assessments and coaching to build resilient leadership pipelines, which he sees as increasingly essential in today’s dynamic healthcare environment.

Final Thoughts
Paul’s work with OSF HealthCare underscores the importance of thoughtful succession planning. By using developmental assessments and coaching, Paul equips organizations with the tools needed to foster leadership resilience and adaptability. As leadership demands grow, Paul remains committed to helping organizations strengthen their leadership teams and drive performance.

Interested in learning more about TLD Group's leadership work? Reach out to work with TLD Group today!