Recently, we introduced the ODLC V.A.L.U.E.™ Framework — a strategic lens to help leaders navigate today’s complex health equity landscape with purpose and clarity.
Each week, we’re unpacking a letter of the framework, offering real-world insights and tools to help you lead with greater alignment, evidence, and impact.
A: ANCHOR YOUR EVIDENCE
If you’re leading change right now, it’s not enough to be passionate: you need receipts.
In today’s environment, strategic leaders must anchor their work in evidence, not only to measure progress but to legitimize priorities, align with organizational goals, and communicate impact across departments, payors, and systems.
Too often, this work stalls not because it lacks merit, but because it lacks metrics. And vague dashboards aren’t the answer either.
🛠️ Practice Tips: How to Voice Your Alignment
Anchoring doesn’t require a statistics degree or an MBA. Rather, it requires intention. Start where you are:
- Link your effort to one core system goal: access, quality, safety, cost, or experience.
- Utilize existing data sources: EHR dashboards, HR metrics, Press Ganey, readmissions, or operational delays.
- Connect the dots: Show how a people-centered concern (like engagement, access to care, or belonging) impacts performance.
- Compare across groups: Stratify data by geography, insurance type, role, or specialty area.
- Ask: What would make this persuasive in a budget or quality meeting? That’s your anchor.
Remember: Anecdotes spark emotion. Evidence earns investment.
Without measurement, progress is just an illusion” – E. Taylor
Anchoring your work in evidence keeps it moving forward, not just moving around. Unless you anchor, your efforts risk being treated as parallel tracks instead of strategic levers. The most innovative initiatives can stall when they’re not linked to organizational outcomes, such as efficiency, quality, or access.
Need help strengthening your links? ODLC’s Certificate Program in Transformative Health Equity Leadership is designed to help you translate your values into system-level impact. The advanced elective “Using Public Health Data for Action” is particularly relevant to anchoring and is a must-take course!
Keep Tracking With Us,
Dr. Erica Taylor
Preview for Next week: L = Lead from Your Lane -> because real change doesn’t require a new title, just bold action from where you are.
