The Front-Line Leader (ePub)

Real leadership that leads to high engagement, higher
performance, and a culture of accountability

As president and CEO of Scripps Health, one of America's most
prestigious health systems, Chris Van Gorder presided over a
dramatic turnaround, catapulting Scripps from near bankruptcy to a
dominant market position. While hospitals and health systems
nationwide have laid people off or are closing their doors, Scripps
is financially healthy, has added thousands of employees (even with
a no-layoff philosophy), and has developed a reputation as a top
employer. What are the secrets to this remarkable story?

In The Front-Line Leader, Chris Van Gorder candidly
shares his own incredible story, from police officer to CEO, and
the leadership philosophy that drives all of his decisions and
actions: people come first. Van Gorder began his unlikely career as
a California police officer, which deeply instilled in him a sense
of social responsibility, honesty, and public service. After being
injured on the job and taking an early retirement, Van Gorder had
to reinvent himself, taking a job as a hospital security director,
a job that would change his life. Through hard work and
determination, he rose to executive ranks, eventually becoming CEO
of Scripps. But he never forgot his own roots and powerful work
ethic, or the time when he was a security officer and a CEO would
not make eye contact with him.

Van Gorder leads from the front lines, making it a priority to
know his employees and customers at every level. His values learned
on the force--protecting the community, educating citizens,
developing caring relationships, and ultimately doing the right
thing--shape his approach to business. As much as companies
talk about accountability, managers seldom understand what
practical steps to take to achieve an ethic of service that makes
accountability meaningful. The Front-Line Leader outlines
specific tactics and steps anyone can use starting today to take
responsibility, inspire others, and achieve breakout results for
their organizations. Van Gorder reveals how a no-layoff philosophy
led to higher accountability, how his own attention to seemingly
minor details spurred larger change, and how his own high standards
for himself and his team improved morale and productivity.

From general strategy to the tiny, everyday steps leaders can
take to create the kind of culture and accountability that
translates into major competitive advantage, The Front-Line
Leader charts a path to better leadership and a more engaged,
higher-performing organization.