Leadership Letdown...

I belong to a couple of professional organizations related to my field of choice, healthcare administration. Unfortunately, due to "the mission", I haven't been to a conference since January 2006, when I was on the Kitty Hawk and another command funded the trip because I was on an operational "platform" (Navy speak for being stationed on a ship). My current command, which shall remain nameless, has funds set aside for professional training but it's doled out at the discretion of each individual's director. This year, my director said "I'm going because I have to go to maintain my Fellow status." Last year, the boss didn't let anyone go because funding was tight throughout the command. This year, one of my coworkers was able to get the tuition waived through the organization BUT the boss seems hesitant to let her go, even though the only cost to the command would be for travel. The request was submitted 2 weeks ago and returned without a definite course of action. Of course, the boss won't even be back for another week, which is a scant month before my coworker would have to travel to Congress in Chicago. (Yes, this Boss could be described as a TIU...see previous entry)

We all know the boss is going to network, although if cost was truly an issue, the boss could save the command funding by choosing to get the needed CEUs to recertify via online courses. My guess: poor planning or lack of opportunity over the last 3 years (the time between recertification) results in the use of government funding (at least $2000) to attend a 4 day party and get 12 credits. We know the boss isn't lying; it just seems that the boss could be a true leader and say something to our coworker like "I need to attend to recertify but I'll find the funding so you can too." What a letdown. (At the time of this writing, the boss is away for 2 weeks during the midst of the annual "business planning" time...1 week for another networking event that is masked as a conference in Washington DC and 1 week on leave. We're just tired of the excuses. Tell it like it is, Boss. If you're going to network, tell us. We've all been to the same conference in the past and heck, half the senior leaders aren't even in the conference sessions. They're mingling and having other meetings elsewhere. Why should you be any different?)

Personally, the last time I attended a ACHE event, I chose a 3 day focused "cluster" so that I could get the 12 credits in an efficient manner. It's not that I don't like going to a party paid for by someone else. It's just that I don't like wasting my time in courses that I may or may not like. The last couple of Congress seminars I attended was a good overall experience but I really only felt I benefitted from about 80% of the courses attended. I actually left one early because the speaker was so ineffective. (I went shopping at Nordstrom's for some running pants because I'd forgotten to pack a pair for the wintry 5K the next morning...) I haven't attended Congress since then and much prefer "more bang for the buck" type training. This year, I asked and received a waiver for an online course so that I could nibble away at my requirements for Fellow status...just in case I decide to remain a member of ACHE in 3 years. It's easier than trying to do it all at once!