Oct. 17, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

One of the biggest ways to ensure a desired workforce is to help educate them.

That’s a foundational belief for Paul Hanson, CEO of Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, and one he credits for helping the health system address multifaceted needs for talent.

Hanson will help lead off the WIN in Workforce Summit on Nov. 1 as part of the panel Talent Talk: Get To Know the People Changing Our Workforce Landscape.

The annual event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sioux Falls Convention Center and will bring together thought leaders such as Hanson for a look at what the future holds for talent development, attraction and retention.

We caught up with Hanson for a preview of what to expect.

What are some of the areas you plan to address as a panelist at the WIN in Workforce Summit?

I hope that I can provide a perspective on the relationships we have with our local/state universities and technical colleges. We are very fortunate to have the relationship with our academic partners like we do. We spend a tremendous amount of human and financial capital resources to nurture those relationships. Even with that type of commitment, we are not immune to economic and industry demands for people. The competition for professionals and other associates is incredibly competitive, and it aligns itself with the very real need for key positions that are in short supply.

What are some best practices you think Sanford has in attracting and retaining talent?

I think Sanford Health has been diligent about being competitive with our wage and benefit programs. I think we have been creative in ways to leverage our partnerships with educational systems throughout our service area to create opportunities for our existing employees as well as potential new employees. We have been much more proactive and operationally deliberate in enhancing our culture of inclusiveness, especially as it pertains to patient satisfaction, patient safety, employee satisfaction and employee safety.

How do you feel about Sanford’s involvement as an organization in taking a lead role in addressing workforce needs?

I feel very confident in saying that Sanford Health is recognized nationally for our investments in our educational systems, aligned partnerships with numerous service organizations and working with and through our employee base to create opportunities for them professionally. We have made significant investments through our financial donations and our human capital investments — all of which demonstrate our commitment to our patients, employees and communities that we serve.

Are there skills you as a leader see needing to be further developed in the workforce of the future?

Becky Nelson, a very wise former executive at Sanford Health, told me this about 15 years ago: “As a leader, you need to listen with the intent of being influenced.” We have so many great minds associated within our respective businesses. Those of us with a few years of experience can apply life experiences to the challenges that face us, but within these challenges exists an opportunity to address things perhaps differently and have a better outcome. The best way to go down that path, while being “cautiously optimistic,” is to let your people have the autonomy within their jobs to do their jobs.

What gaps do you think still exist in the Sioux Falls area when it comes to addressing workforce needs?

Well, maybe the most obvious answer is this: We need more people who are willing to relocate to our city. In my opinion, we are so fortunate to live in Sioux Falls, a  community that prides itself on our ability to create opportunities on a variety of levels. We have employers willing to invest in our people. Train our people. Promote our people. We need to attract more individuals and business sectors here. Sure, we’ll have some bumps with infrastructure considerations, but those bumps are also opportunities.