Lady Willingdon Hospital’s Leadership Training

On the hills of Manali, Himachal Pradesh, lies the 90-year-old Lady Willingdon Hospital. At 6500 feet on the only road over the Rohtang pass, the place becomes a snow abode in winter. The hospital began in 1935 as a one-room dispensary by the then Viceress, Lady Willingdon, who wanted to create medical facilities at the request of the local people. The hospital has continued prioritising serving the local community, particularly those in the Kullu Valley and the surrounding areas. The hospital is committed to providing healthcare at affordable costs, making it accessible to a wider population. 

On the afternoon of 4th April, the Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI) conducted a Leadership Training at Lady Willingdon Hospital. The training was attended by 12-15 hospital department heads and supervisors, among others. The sessions continued into the next day. 

Dr. Priya, General Secretary of CMAI and Mr. Lyric Abraham, Section Head of Allied Health at CMAI, were the speakers of the event. They discussed leadership and management essentials, providing insights and strategies on effective communication and teamwork and effective decision making and problem solving by addressing the root cause of the issue. They also spoke on conflict resolution and interpersonal skills. 

CMAI invited Mr. A. Sam Blesson, Director of OD, CIM  to conduct a session. He talked about the individual calling, the contribution and compassion for the community, and the mission and vision statements. He addressed the question of why we do what we do by incorporating the following elements: “Our personal calling and how we align with it as individuals. Our contribution to the mission and how we align with it as teams. Our compassion for the community and its visibility to the community”.

This discussion foresees better performance from those in leadership positions and the effectiveness in their ability to build teams. There is also the expectation of an improved performance through an appraisal of all staff, which in turn will lead to the growth of the organisation.

Lady Willingdon Hospital’s mission statement, “Loving God and Loving our Neighbour”, reflects its dedication to serving the community with compassion and a focus on healing. It was a great opportunity for CIM to partner with CMAI to support the hospital. This partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of those served by the hospital while upholding its core values of love and service.