Roberta Tinch: What a CEO by 34 Learned About Presence, Pace, and Leading People

In this episode of the Step Wise podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Roberta Tinch, President of Inova Mount Vernon Hospital and a healthcare leader in the Inova Health System. Growing up, Roberta found herself in hospitals regularly. Whether to visit her mother, a nurse of over 40 years, or to help care for her father, whose kidney health required additional care. Roberta grew up witnessing both sides of healthcare. Knowing she could one day make a difference, she decided to pursue a career in healthcare herself, and boy, has she thrived! Roberta challenges outdated ideals of leadership by leading with compassion and connectedness. 

Delegation is Real

Just because you, as a leader, can do something doesn’t mean you always should. In Roberta’s words, “Delegation is real.” You are no help to your organization if you are burnt out. Sure, in the short term, you may think you are optimizing your team’s output by taking on as much as you possibly can. But how sustainable is that? How long before the people you lead suffer because your cup is overflowing, and no one on your team has been equipped with the tools to help you stop it? Delegate. 

Facing New Challenges

Roberta knows this firsthand. The pandemic affected the lives of all, but its impacts were undoubtedly felt most by healthcare workers. Even now, they are still dealing with the aftermath of this life-altering event. On top of that, many Americans are struggling to cope with the political tensions and economic challenges that have been exacerbated in recent years. In these challenging times, it has become crucial for leaders to listen to their employees and adapt to support them. Roberta and 

Communication in Leadership

Let’s talk about communication for a minute. Not the empty “I hope this email finds you well” kind of communication. Let’s talk about communicating with purpose and communicating to understand. Communicating to connect with others. In Roberta’s words, “There’s nothing worse than communication that is out of touch with what people are actually feeling.” When you listen to others, are you listening to understand or are you listening to confirm what you already believe? As a leader, it’s essential to step back and ask yourself this question regularly. We’ve seen too many high-level CEOs lose the trust of their team and clientele because they’ve acted without considering the emotions of the people they serve.

Slowing Down

I know very few who have acceded to such a high-level leadership position as quickly as Roberta did. CEO by 34! How many people can say they’ve achieved that? Her ambition and drive are undeniable. Yet when Roberta found herself at the top of the mountain, she realized all the little joys of life she had sacrificed. She found herself wishing that she had taken advantage of the opportunity. In hearing her story, I’m reminded to savor the moments in between. To find value and joy in the journey. You can still do your job well when you pace yourself. You don’t have to sacrifice your personal relationships and home life for the sake of your career. As Roberta says, “There is nothing magical about moving too quickly.” 

To listen to the whole interview with Roberta Tinch, check out the Step Wise podcast.