Hello everyone. Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Pierre Florendo. I’ve been a registered nurse for just over a decade and have been a Director of Care for just under a year. I have a beautiful, supportive wife, and bundles of energy (son and daughter) aged 4 and 2 respectively.
I did not initially choose to be a nurse – Filipino nurses are a stereotype for a reason! See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjVZ14eb0c for a humorous take [Warning: Profanity]. As much as I tried to avoid becoming one (and turning into my parents), I could not escape the uniform. I honestly thought that I would be happy in tech, but the dot-com bubble denied those dreams. Still, I didn’t want to be a nurse. It took leaving the country of my birth (Canada) and moving to the country of my ethnicity (Philippines) to finally get me into a nursing school. Imagine my surprise when I found out I had an aptitude for it.
Looking over my life and career, I have noted multiple times where I lacked either direction, alignment, or commitment to anything meaningful. I call these times my Jonah moments, in reference to the prophet who ran away to Tarshish. And, yes, I can also describe the whales that changed my life and dragged me back to the divine strategic plan.
Now that I am a leader (another whale!), I see the value in strategic leadership, especially in health care. Many leaders, especially politicians, appear reluctant to change health care. For them, health care “is the third rail. Touch it and you die” (Simpson, 2012). Many others in health care have become comfortable with current practice and see no need to change. However, current practice will only lead to mediocre results. If leaders want effective change, they must create direction, alignment, and commitment for lasting results (Hughes, Beatty, & Dinwoodie, 2014).
I am looking forward to learning alongside with you!
References:
Hughes, R. L., Beatty, K. M., & Dinwoodie, D. (2014).Becoming a strategic leader: Your role in your organization’s enduring success. John Wiley & Sons.
Simpson, J. (2012). Chronic condition: Why Canada’s health-care system needs to be dragged into the 21st century. Toronto: Allen Lane.
Boyder says:
Hi Pierre! Nice meeting you. It’s so cool that your journey is almost the opposite of so many people. Usually, they leave their country of heritage to come to Canada! Makes me think that God really was working in your life at that time. Your family is beautiful! Are you in a formal leader/management role in your professional world?
– Lillian Boyd
lillian@springvale.org
September 28, 2018 — 3:09 am
pierreflorendo says:
Hi Lillian,
Thank you for your post. I believe that the trip away from Canada provided me with the perspective of my good fortune being born in Canada, as well as the “kick in the pants” to motivate me to better things.
I am a Director of Care for a long-term care home, so I am responsible for all care-related activities. Nurses are my direct reports. It’s been a challenge, especially with nurses with careers longer than my lifespan!
Looking forward to learning with you!
-Pierre
October 3, 2018 — 5:49 am
jbradley1966 says:
Hi Pierre,
Thanks for sharing your “Jonah” stories with us. I have found in my life that God’s discipline has helped me many times to find my way, or rather His way for me. I look forward to the LDRS 501 journey with you.
September 28, 2018 — 3:28 am
Samson says:
Thank you for your insights Pierre! I am also in the healthcare field under Health Protection and I can definitely relate to your experience. Looking forward to working with you in this course!
September 28, 2018 — 3:31 am
Sally Hinksman says:
Enjoyed your rendition of the “Jonah” path to leadership, Pierre! Sometimes the best paths are the crookedest ones where you can’t quite see around the next corner. Battling mediocrity is continuous and necessary; you certainly are the visionary to lead beyond the ordinary!
Lovely family photo, Pierre!
Sally
September 28, 2018 — 3:33 am
pierreflorendo says:
Hi Sally! Nice learning with you again!
This post aligns with your comment about the path of success: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/religionprof/2014/02/the-path-to-success.html
Looking forward to learning with you!
-Pierre
October 3, 2018 — 5:42 am
Palak Sonvane says:
Hi Pierre, it was nice knowing you in the last class but your introduction told your entire story. I must say you guys look adorable in your family picture.
Reading your introduction, I found a close resemblance to my situation. In India, we have to make career decisions when we are 15! I do not think its the proper age when you know your passion or your interests and so, most career choices go wrong. But leadership course has definitely helped me a lot in solving the muddle.
I have always enjoyed reading your posts as you have lot to say, yet in a simple and understandable way.
September 28, 2018 — 1:25 pm
pierreflorendo says:
Hi Palak,
Great connecting with you again! Thank you for the compliment regarding the picture – my wife and kids are the adorable ones 😀
There is a common expectation among Asians to have a career plan early, especially one within STEM. The liberal arts are considered a waste of time for many. I’m glad the leadership course has helped you (and me!) immensely.
Looking forward to learning with you!
-Pierre
October 3, 2018 — 5:23 am
sjasmins says:
Hi Pierre,
It’s great to e-meet you. Your introduction really resonated with me as we both are married with two young kids, are passionate about leadership and work in the healthcare field. Like you, I see the need for change in our healthcare system and the attitude of some leaders, and am not afraid to lead others through change in order to better meet the needs of our patients.
One of my biggest mentors is my mother. She was a nurse for 40 years, and has spent her lifetime working in leadership positions both in the hospital and in her church. Her natural aptitude for leadership is something I was born with. As much as I’d try and avoid leadership roles, it never too long for me to find myself leading teams. Especially when there was an apparent lack of leadership, I was never able to sit back as a spectator. Something from within me compelled me to stand up and help.
Anyways, I’m not sure how much we’ll work together as I’m in the business stream of the course, but I wanted to say “hi” and wish you the best.
Cheers.
Sarah Jasmins
September 28, 2018 — 7:22 pm
sjasmins says:
Hi Pierre,
I read your introductory blog post and it really resonated with me. We are both married with two young kids, live in the lower mainland and are working in the health care field.
I completely agree with you that many of the leaders, in particularly in the health care field, are resistant to change, when they should be the ones advocating for it. I agree that change is essential to improving the quality of care that we provide to our patients. As I often say, “Good enough is not enough”.
One of my biggest inspirations is my mother. She has been a nurse for the past 40 years, and has been a strong, influential leader both in the hospital and in her church. I, without a doubt, inherited her natural leadership skills. Although like you, I didn’t embrace my calling at first. I would try and avoid leadership roles, but often when there was an apparent lack of leadership, I would always step in and help.
I don’t think we’ll work together much as I’m in the business section of the course, but I wanted to wish you all the best with your new leadership role.
Cheers.
Sarah Jasmins
September 28, 2018 — 9:25 pm
pierreflorendo says:
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your post! Yes, change in health care is difficult, despite our lip service to “best practice” and “evidence-based practice”. That’s one reason I decided on taking MALEAD; I wanted to tools to have effective change.
I’m glad your mother inspired you to lead. My mother is a retired nurse and (repeatedly) nudged me into nursing. I’m glad she did.
Looking forward to learning with you!
-Pierre
October 3, 2018 — 5:45 am
Kunal says:
Hi Pierre,
Thank you for sharing your story of life in just a few sentences. It was very courageous of you to choose a field other than your interest. You showed a true example of an emerging leader as the field you don’t wish to continue you are the director which means a leader. Excited to learn from you a lot during our journey of ldrs501.
– Kunal
September 29, 2018 — 3:18 am
pierreflorendo says:
Hi Kunal,
Thank you for your post and your kind words. It’s nice to meet you. Looking forward to learning with you!
-Pierre
October 3, 2018 — 5:15 am
marcelowarkentin says:
Hi Pierre!
How have you been? How are you LIP Assignments coming? What a great introduction. I appreciate you mentioning the prophet Jonah. When I received the call to move to Paraguay, I remember saying that I did not want to be Jonah and run away. Although we did not run away, answering the call was still hard. My wife and I even bought the book by Priscilla Shirer called Life Interrupted which uses Jonah as an example of how God had interrupted his life. We felt that God had interrupted our lives in the USA as well. Life felt pretty good until God had another plan.
Thanks again,
September 30, 2018 — 1:31 am
pierreflorendo says:
Hello Marcelo,
Thank you for your post! My LIP Assignments are still stalled at this point, but I’m hopeful they can continue. I like the story of Jonah, although I don’t want to complain about the unexpected gourd giving me shelter!
What we feel are interruptions are God’s direction – look at Abram!
Thanks for connecting!
-Pierre
October 3, 2018 — 5:14 am