Fired for Blog Post
Recently I was fired from a faculty position for posting a blog entry. Let me outline the facts; offer some opinion and leadership lessons learned.
The Facts: I was fired from a part time faculty position with the ASHPFoundation Pharmacy Leadership Academy (PLA). The stated reason was that faculty, students and Board members objected to this blog post [Link] and my criticisms of a related organization, the Am Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP).
ASHPFoundation PLA is a separate organization from ASHP. ASHP is a membership organization and the ASHPFoundation is an educational and research organization. They share offices and board members, but are separate entities.
The CEO of ASHPFoundation indicated that if I said the things in my blog about an employer I would be fired. He is absolutely correct. However, an employer - employee relationship is very different than a member relationship of an organization. All the comments in the postings are directed to the membership organization, with the goal of making a wider audience knowledgeable of an injustice. It was never focused on the employing entity, the PLA.
The ASHPFoudation PLA is a fantastic program for mid-level practitioners looking for leadership training. Being a faculty member for 2 years was a highlight of my career. My issues with the membership organization in no way diminish the view of the excellent PLA program. It was an honor and privilege to serve the students and work with the faculty.
When I posted the blog, I received only positive comments from faculty members, students and leaders of the PLA, general membership and my health system pharmacy leaders.
Some Leadership thoughts and lessons learned:
The Facts: I was fired from a part time faculty position with the ASHPFoundation Pharmacy Leadership Academy (PLA). The stated reason was that faculty, students and Board members objected to this blog post [Link] and my criticisms of a related organization, the Am Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP).
ASHPFoundation PLA is a separate organization from ASHP. ASHP is a membership organization and the ASHPFoundation is an educational and research organization. They share offices and board members, but are separate entities.
The CEO of ASHPFoundation indicated that if I said the things in my blog about an employer I would be fired. He is absolutely correct. However, an employer - employee relationship is very different than a member relationship of an organization. All the comments in the postings are directed to the membership organization, with the goal of making a wider audience knowledgeable of an injustice. It was never focused on the employing entity, the PLA.
The ASHPFoudation PLA is a fantastic program for mid-level practitioners looking for leadership training. Being a faculty member for 2 years was a highlight of my career. My issues with the membership organization in no way diminish the view of the excellent PLA program. It was an honor and privilege to serve the students and work with the faculty.
When I posted the blog, I received only positive comments from faculty members, students and leaders of the PLA, general membership and my health system pharmacy leaders.
Some Leadership thoughts and lessons learned:
- A passive aggressive retaliatory strike by a membership organization on a member is a sign of insecure not confident leadership.
- A sign of a healthy organization is one that embraces a diversity of viewpoints and encourages open dialogue.
- Attempt to change from the traditional power structures first. Resort to other measures such as social media only after everything else fails. While this approach was attempted, it was poorly executed.
- The following is adapted from advice I received from a venture capital firm. While in its original form it applied to raising capital, it can be applied to this situation as well.
- A single person with a megaphone can be annoying.
- Two people with a plan for change will attract others.
- Then “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” [Margaret Mead]
Please continue to follow http://RxInformatics.com, where a small group of thoughtful, committed informatic professionals will change pharmacy, health care and just maybe the world.
Comments
Time to sue ASHP?
It turns out that You Can Badmouth Your Boss on Facebook - Forbes http://jc.is/gOcckU
This is far more offensive that what happen here. Franking, not sure I agree with this court decision. It certainly would give good precedent to sue and win a case with ASHPFoundation.
An opinion
I don't believe you were fired for what you said, but rather for how you said it. If your ASHP election post had been a bit more constructive and less about pointing out the flaws you perceived in the candidates, you'd probably have greater influence for making real change. I perceived the post as an angry soapbox for you, not as open dialogue for others to join. Sending this out to paying customers (PLA class) was probably the nail in the coffin. If I were to send out my unsolicited politcal opinions to patients of my hospital or my colleagues, I'd be dusting off my resume.
Your PLA module was insightful, so it's too bad next year's class will not have the great material you shared this year. Please take the above as constructive advice, because that's what it is.
Good Opinion
Thanks for the constructive advice. Sorry for the perception of an angry soapbox. Part of the post was certainly that. Hard for me not to get emotional at non-action from responsible people. On the other hand, I was touched by the input and action that was taken from the candidates mentioned.
Some how I do not think that had I talked about objection to policy by ASHP in a different manner the outcome would have been different. They seem to me, incapable of opposing opinion.
Sending it out to students and future leaders of the profession seemed like a good idea at the time. The purpose of the class is to solicit thought from students. Keep in mind you were students, not patients or employees. That is a very different relationship than colleagues in employment, to which you are correct is not appropriate.
Thanks for speaking your mind, John
You've articulated issues with ASHP's power structure that I've seen personally in the past. In 1991, I turned down a job with ASHP in Bethesda because as an employee for ASHP, I would be PROHIBITED FROM WORKING AS A HOSPITAL PHARMACIST.
So, with staff that are forbidden to be in the real world, what do you think happens to the passion and advocacy for our profession by ASHP staff?
Anonymous, (but you know me well)
Support from the 'inside'