Managing people, whether it’s a staff of three or a staff of 130 can
be challenging at the best of times. Factor in the pace and scope of health care and those challenges grow exponentially. It’s for this reason that Saskatoon Health Region implemented the Manager Development Program. The first class of 13 graduated in December.

The first Manager Development Program graduating class (not in order – missing is Cheryl Cummings, Christina Sparrow and Tara Young) Nicole Bletsky, Kara Cote, Lynne Fitzsimmons, Tracey Kushniruk, Lana Linton, Michael Losie, Gary Paydli, Cheryl Sinclair, Donna Strilaeff and Lisa Williams stand with Saskatoon Health Region Vice-President of People Strategies Bonnie Blakely, Lorna Clarke, Executive Director of Acute Care, Christine Witt and Christina Benzing, Program Facilitators, Organizational Learning & Effectiveness and Betty Mutwiri, Manager, Organizational Learning & Effectiveness.


“I came to the Health Region four years ago thinking I had all the necessary tools to solve any situation,” says Gary Paydli, an assistant manager in Facilities and Engineering Services at Royal University Hospital, “After taking this program I realized that I had a lot of empty slots in my tool bag. Overall, I think with having all these tools, my confidence level has skyrocketed and I feel comfortable in any situation, whether that’s one-on-one or in a group setting.”
Replacing the Manager School Program, the Manager Development Program trains new and experienced Region leaders over 12 months,
using a framework that includes
Leads Self; Engages Others; Achieves Results; Develops Coalitions and System Transformation.
The Saskatoon Health Region Manager Development Program draws on managers’ knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences and further builds on their individual strengths and competencies.
“The curriculum is based on action learning,” says Christine Witt, an Organizational Learning & Effectiveness Consultant with the Region. “What you learn in class, you apply to your daily job as a manager. From there, you report what went well and what needs to change, back to the class. It’s very hands on,”
As one of the program facilitators, Witt works with the managers to develop their skill sets.
The Hay Group MCP360 assessment was used to gather pre and post scores to determine the manager’s benchmark competency levels. Based on 11 competencies, the average national growth in competency strength, is 2.4 per cent.

Over the course of the year long program, Region leaders’ competencies grew 5.2 per
cent – more than double the
national average.
“The program was a great success,” adds Witt.
Many aspects of the program are designed to aid managers in doing their job as effectively as possible, including change management, staff engagement, mentoring and collaboration. The pilot is unique in that it leverages the knowledge base of others (other managers, directors and the senior leaders) to encourage peer-to-peer learning, on-the-job training and integrated transformational leadership practices.

“I was excited to see the results. I know programs like these yield results and I consider it a great return on our investment,” says Bonnie Blakley, vice-president of People Strategies, Saskatoon Health Region. “I really have to applaud this group for taking the time to improve their leadership.”

Based on Transformational Leadership principles, the program includes:
- An Individual Learning Plan – based on pre-assessment tool results
- Cumulative Competencies
- Mentoring and Coaching Components
- Various Learning Tools
- Self-evaluation and Formal Evaluation
- LEARNERS making and implementing real-tme plans, based on what they have learned