There are few things that we can be certain of in life today: death, taxes,

and change. And, the rate of change is rapidly speeding up.

In the April issue of SUCCESS Magazine, Darren Hardy noted that in 1900 it

took 150 years to double all human knowledge. Today, it doubles every one to

two years and by the year 2020 it will double every 72 days! It’s mind

boggling to imagine a world where information and knowledge doubles every 2.5

months. While Hardy referenced a global knowledge base, healthcare is also

impacted by the rapid explosion of personalized medicine, genetics and

vaccines that is also growing at an astounding rate.

Cancer Registrars are profoundly impacted by knowledge doubling and keeping

pace with change has already impacted cancer registration in 2010. This

speed of change demands that they develop the mindset and skills to rapidly

adapt to change by participating in constant cancer registry specific

education and professional upgrading activities. In fact, keeping one’s

cancer registry certification (or CTR) means school is never really over.

To succeed, Cancer Registrars must develop expertise in human capital, not

just reimbursement or payer habits; master emotional intelligence, not just

business competence; know how to collaborate, not just control; lead their

healthcare partners through networks, not hierarchies; and align people

through meaning and purpose, not reports and spreadsheets. The most

successful cancer registrars will rely more on emotional and relational

aptitude rather than technical, financial or even clinical expertise.

Emotional aptitude is expressed as self-awareness, self-confidence,

self-management, ability to motivate oneself and others, and empathy.

Relational aptitude and skills are demonstrated by an ability to communicate,

manage time, networking, team-building AND meeting the need and wants of

people you interact with, and depend on, to perform your work.

Ultimately, successful cancer registrars will be those who implement a

continual professional upgrading program that includes clinical, relational

and emotional skill sets and development of leadership in others. Cancer

Registry leadership is not about getting others to agree with you or to

follow you, but rather building leadership in everyone around you. Cancer

Registrars do this by developing the mindset, emotional intelligence, and

skill sets everyone needs to lead themselves in a constantly changing

environment, thus aligning and leading all healthcare partners and

organizations to achieving their greater goals.

So, it all comes down to this. Successful cancer registry leaders of the

next decade will be the individuals who develop leaders and serve the needs

of their healthcare partners and organizations the fastest. Where will you

be in the next decade? Lagging behind or keeping pace?