November 2019

NEW YORK (Nov. 25, 2019) – A Note from Shelley Tanner, SanovaWorks CEO/President

Are listening, empathy and compassion the strong skills needed in leadership today? I think so.

Listening may be hard if you really like to talk!  

Of these strong skills, listening can be a challenge for some leadership. For example, listening may be hard for those who really like to talk. Listening is difficult for habitual interrupters. And listening is practically impossible for the digitally (or otherwise) distracted. However, I’ve found listening is a vital skill that I’ve personally worked hard to perfect. Listening is one of the greatest tools we can employ in business. We are so veiled by our perceptions that it is hard to truly open our ears and minds to what others are saying. For example, “ready to listen” is what Chris Voss says is the most effective way to go into negotiations. Never Split the Difference, Voss’ book, enlightens the readers to listening as the key component in mastering a negotiation.

Here’s a twelve minute video of Chris’ Tedx Talk Never Split the Difference

Empathy and listening go hand in hand. 

How can you be a truly good listener without having an appreciation for the other person’s point of view? Many people (and leaders) bucket empathy in with “soft skills” and mistakenly think of it as “being nice” or trying to “make people happy”. This is far from the truth. In this Forbes article the following quote says it all: 

“Empathy enables you to know if the people you’re trying to reach are actually reached.  It allows you to predict the effect your decisions and actions will have on core audiences and strategize accordingly.  Without empathy, you can’t build a team or nurture a new generation of leaders. You will not inspire followers or elicit loyalty. Empathy is essential in negotiations and sales:  it allows you to know your target’s desires and what risks they are or aren’t willing to take.”

Compassionate Empathy the strongest leadership skill.

Compassionate empathy is leadership strength in action. Recently, New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern remarked that ‘It takes strength to be an empathetic leader’. Moreover, Ardern’s leadership style is an example to follow. Of the three types of empathy, cognitive, emotional, and compassionate; Ardern clearly has employed compassionate empathy in her response to her constituents needs. 

The Cornerstones: Leadership, Listening, Empathy, and Compassion 

SanovaWorks is a company built on the principles of listening, empathy, and compassion. As a remote company, these cornerstones are imperatives in our daily operations. Without first fully listening and tapping into the needs of our teams, we would not be able to provide the highest level of service and products for our clients. Our leadership style ensures job satisfaction, and peak performance for our clients. Win, Win, Win!

Shelley Tanner, President and CEO SanovaWorks

Articles for Reference:  

How Can You Be Sure Someone Is Fit to Be a Leader? It Comes Down to 1 Word

Empathy Is An Essential Leadership Skill — And There’s Nothing Soft About It

Empathy: The Most Important Leadership Skill Needed Today

NEW YORK (Nov. 11, 2019) – A Note from Shelley Tanner, SanovaWorks CEO/President

Results Matter in Every Situation

As milestones in life and career approach, I pause to reflect on my past experience. My journey brought me from Australia to New York, with many stops along the way. My story is one of tenacity and a willingness to fight “hard won” battles.  The personal and professional results that ultimately matter the most are the rewards. Results matter is a philosophy that I have adopted across the board. In every situation. Results matter is why SanovaWorks is the leader is our field.

Life and Work: It’s All Experience

My career trajectory is one with a variety of experience and structure. My career turned out to be great training for all that life has thrown at me. Long story short, I’m a cancer survivor. I recently celebrated five years since my diagnosis with friends, family, my SanovaWorks family, and our clients. It was a special evening celebrating life. 

At this surprise party, I’m once again reminded of why I do what I do. My work as President and CEO of SanovaWorks, impacts my employees, their families, as well as our clients, the physicians and healthcare providers. The list is long. I’m truly humbled that I am able to do work that is meaningful.

Recently, I had the honor of attending the Champions for Change Gala held by the Skin Cancer Foundation as a Committee Member and representative of SanovaWorks. This was a great honor for me. Positively impacting the lives of people who are battling cancer is something I strive to do everyday. 

Growing Up Down Under

Born and raised in Australia, my life began Down Under. A certain Warner Brothers cartoon character seems to be our claim to fame in Tasmania; however, my childhood home is where my love of nature, animals, and endless adventure was born. While I never could, or would, deny my Aussie roots, I do currently consider myself a New Yorker, because honestly, I do heart NY. 

Healthcare Got Me into This

As a Registered Nurse in Australia and London, I developed deep compassion for patients. It was also hands on experience in the complex systems that run hospitals. I completed postgraduate studies in Nursing, Health Promotion, and Public Health including a Masters of Health Science. I worked on large-scale government health and wellness programs from the needs analysis stage to implementation and evaluation. Little did I know then that my career would take me in the direction of leading SanovaWorks. 

How Sanova Works 

Seventeen years ago, I was presented with the opportunity to join a start-up healthcare communications provider. The company’s vision and potential were truly compelling, so I accepted and never looked back. Physicians Continuing Education eventually gave birth to SanovaWorks. We are successfully producing materials, web based tools, live, online, and print, CME programs, and podcasts through Sanova Learning, Sanova Publishing and Sanova Live. The SanovaWorks Team is a group of brilliant minds that have a strong work ethic with mutual appreciation and respect. I could not be more proud to be a part of this company.

Did I say that I love being at work and I love our company? A company culture that inspires and gives staff a sense of professional fulfillment and belonging, is one of my most significant and fundamental goals in leading our team. 

The CEO role was a natural fit. As an RN, I approached every nursing role as if I owned the hospital – always looking for ways to do things better. The results I accomplished included, reducing the disposable waste in operating rooms, and implementing patient assistance programs with the hospital research department. I am passionate about improving products and systems, creating win-win situations, and resolving persistent challenges.

Today, I bring that same commitment to SanovaWorks. We believe that finally, results are what matter and this is at the core of what we do.

Our Results Matter Philosophy

Results matter to us because they matter to our clients and end-users. This philosophy is reflected not only in the work we produce, but in our internal culture as well.  SanovaWorks home office is located in New York, however we have a remote work structure. Our results-oriented work environment maintains flexibility as part of our cultural DNA. Employees are encouraged to work in the way that lets them deliver the best outcome to our clients and the healthcare practitioners we serve. 

We bridge the gaps (and straddle communications channels) in the field of medical education. Our clients are Healthcare professionals that include boomers and millennials. We are experts to speaking effectively to both generations and everyone in between.

SanovaWorks was an early adopter in social and digital marketing to reach millennial and Gen Z healthcare practitioners. We also understand that we reach our more mature audience with print. We are engaging every generation and segment of physicians from residents through retirement preparation. The new and rapidly growing segment of healthcare being managed by Nurse Practitioners and Physicians Assistants are not ignored.

Being a healthcare practitioner means a lifetime of learning. This translates into actively seeking advances in medicine in order to give patients the best care possible. Because the results of healthcare matter, we strive to provide only the highest level of education. We use the power of our communication channels to distribute credible science. 

I welcome the incumbent challenges that will arise as our company adopts new products and services and advanced digital marketing strategies. This is how SanovaWorks maintains and expands its client base.

Work Life Balance

Leading a company isn’t easy. It’s hectic and my schedule is packed. The only way I can make it all happen is by finding time to relax. Writing, travel, and meditation are the activities that I credit with giving me personal clarity, concentration, and a balanced view. This is critical when it comes time for decision making. Results matter is not only my professional philosophy, it’s a philosophy that has carried me through my entire career and personal life. 

Shelley Tanner, President and CEO SanovaWorks