Name: Saba Afzal

Title: Residency Program Director and Vice Chair of Education

Organisation: Hackensack Meridian Health

Dr. Afzal is the residency training director and section chief of Psychiatry at Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean University Medical Center. She also serves as a vice chair of education and academics for Psychiatry at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

In addition to these roles, she serves as a medical director of one of the largest psychiatry outpatient practices in the system. She is American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certified. In addition to these leadership roles, she holds the title of assistant professor of psychiatry at Hackensack Meridian Health School of Medicine as well as Clinical assistant professor at Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine.

She has made significant contributions through her research and remarkable publications and has presented as a guest speaker at various regional and national meetings. Her leadership skills and dedication to teaching and advancing medical knowledge have earned her many prestigious awards and honors.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Saba's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

One of the challenges I've encountered is balancing the needs and expectations of various stakeholders. Each group may have different priorities, goals, and communication styles, so finding the right balance to ensure everyone feels heard, valued, and aligned can be quite challenging.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

Being the youngest of all four siblings, I never envisioned myself being the leader but that did teach me great administrative skills as well as advocating for myself (Things every youngest sibling can relate to lol). On a serious note, I have always been someone who enjoys taking initiative, collaborating with others, willing to learn and above all willing to accept my mistakes when I am wrong.

Once you truly make an effort with a good intent to influence a person or a group, and people increasingly recognize you for that capacity, it starts to feel like it’s legitimate, that you might be good at it, and over time you start to internalize the identity. My chief resident year was realization of my leadership potential and my journey took off from there with incredible support of my mentors.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

I believe planning and prioritizing your tasks before you start your work week is most productive and condusive to a structured work routine and maintaining a healthy work life balance. Not just as a leader but as a wife and a mother of two twin girls, I believe how you manage your time directly affects the productivity of your team and your well being as well as wellbeing of others surrounding you.

I wake up early making sure I have time to exercise, I try to take breaks during the day and delegate when needed. I try not to stay late at work. Earlier in my career, I made a mistake of wearing my burn out as a badge of honor but I have realised That’s the difference between being a “hamster on a wheel” versus doing a really good job with one task at a time.

So getting home on time, unwinding (I love to cook, it is very therapeutic for me), Spending time with family and “turning off” my work brain in the evenings when I am home by compartmentalizing has really helped me. If you dont do that, you will not be able to manage your career satisfaction, leadership strengths or relationships at work. It is the pivotal point of everything else that you do.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

One recent leadership lesson that stands out to me is the importance of fostering psychological safety within teams. While this concept is not new, recent experiences have reinforced its significance in creating a supportive and inclusive work environment where team members feel comfortable taking risks, sharing their ideas, and expressing their concerns without fear of judgment or reprisal.

I've learned that psychological safety requires ongoing attention and effort. It's not enough to establish it once and assume it will persist indefinitely.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Lesson in Leadership by Steve Adubato. I was nominated for a physician leadership academy by my organziation that involved direct coaching by the writer itself. The book has really impacted my leadership journey as I was meeting with the writer regularly so I really understood his point of view on certain things I was tackling. Difficult Conversations: This book is a great resource for anyone who wants to listen effectively, give feedback, and manage conflict.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Prioritize building strong relationships based on trust, respect, and empathy. Effective leadership is not just about achieving results; it's also about inspiring and empowering others to reach their full potential. Great leaders create more leaders, not followers.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

People want to grow in their careers, and it’s the leader’s job to make sure they can. To give them the opportunities they need, push them, guide them. It means looking for strengths and recognizing potential. Setting a high bar for them to clear, but assuring them that you know they can do it and giving the direction and support to believe it. Most meaningful and inspiring part of my career has been directly related to this belief, let it be my residents physicians or other team members.