Michael Reddy, DMD, DMScAt UCSF, we often talk about our True North. This is the direction that we want all our efforts to move toward to improve and become successful. A True North is essential for an organization to transition from its current state to where it aspires to be. At its core, an organization’s True North can be used as a governing objective for how to operate.
If True North is our inner compass driving us forward on the road to success, then our values are our guardrails on the highway that we never cross. Our shared values, known as the UCSF PRIDE Values, keep us together during difficult times, and bring us joy during the high points. Our values make me proud to be a part of our university.
PRIDE is an acronym for professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence. One can define these values in many ways. This is what PRIDE means to me.
Professionalism
Acting professionally is holding yourself accountable for interacting positively and collaboratively with all our teammates, patients and community members. It is about showing accountability through your communication. Being honest, vulnerable, giving feedback and stating expectations are all forms of professionalism.
Being professional by giving constructive criticism and positive feedback often allows your teammates to understand where you’re coming from and what your expectations are. As a good teammate, if I don’t give feedback after a mistake has been made, the message is that it’s acceptable to repeat that same mistake again. If I neglect to say, “well done,” someone may think that I didn’t like the results they provided.
You can also be professional by admitting mistakes and being vulnerable with others. This shows that you’re not perfect, and it’s a great way to let people know that they can trust you. By being the example for your team, you help set the tone and build professionalism as a cultural norm.
Respect
Respect means respecting everyone and treating all persons as you wish to be treated. To me, it means being courteous, kind, and empathetic.
Leading with respect is embracing the differences on the team. Respect your teammates’ time, their opinions, and their ideas. I have an open-door policy, but I don’t shut the door to those who have a different opinion than me. After all, great leaders must be great listeners. Showing respect is not about agreeing with everyone.
I find that by honoring our teammates’ feelings, we can build trust and create an environment where everyone feels safe to be vulnerable. Respect is simply the Golden Rule in action: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Integrity
For me, integrity is about being honest, trustworthy and ethical at all times. It is about what you do and how you act when no one is watching.
Leading with integrity means modeling behaviors that create a healthy culture. Take, for example, gossip. Gossip is like a spreading virus that can kill team morale. Trust, however, is the cure. When gossip is not tolerated, it creates safety and trust among the team.
The second step toward having integrity on a team is to work toward one vision. In my experience, you can present a project for teams to complete through collaboration. By working side by side, teams will deepen their levels of trust and investment while working toward one vision.
Diversity
Diversity is about celebrating differences and appreciating that our differences make us all stronger as a team. Creating an environment of equity, inclusion and belonging is everyone’s job.
Supporting diverse teammates is about showing them you care. Leadership expert John C. Maxwell says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Belonging is built when someone sees that you truly value them as a person and not just as an employee. You can show your team that you value them by learning more about them personally, praising them regularly and ask for their input more often. When people feel valued, you do more than earn their trust, you earn their loyalty as well.
Excellence
The pursuit of excellence is about motivation, innovation and commitment to giving your best every day. It also means encouraging and supporting others to excel. For me, excellence is not an outcome, it is an attitude.
Excellence comes from a high-morale and high-trust workplace. When a team enjoys the people who they work with, it is proven that they are happier and more productive. That doesn’t happen by accident. Focusing on the Pride Values of diversity, integrity, respect and professionalism can raise morale and build trust at the same time.
The pursuit of excellence is about setting a high standard, and then raising the expectations tomorrow. That is the essence of our True North – setting the bar ever higher while guiding the way with our profoundly meaningful values.
That is my interpretation of UCSF’s core PRIDE Values. I believe every UCSF teammate can benefit from them as we work together in support of our mission.
Michael S. Reddy, DMD, DMSc
Dean, UCSF School of Dentistry
Associate Vice Chancellor, Oral Health Affairs
