Amy J Lamb, OTD, OT/L, FAOTA: OT in Executive Coaching
In this post, we will be learning about an occupational therapy practitioner working in executive coaching. You will hear from the personal and professional experiences of Amy J. Lamb, OTD, OT/L, FAOTA. Dr. Lamb is the founder of Meraki &Me, owner of AJLamb Consulting, LLC and an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Michigan University. She is the immediate Past-President of the American Occupational Therapy Association serving in that role from 2016-2019. She has previously served the American Occupational Therapy Association on its Board of Directors as its President-Elect from 2015-2016 and Vice President from 2012-2015. Dr. Lamb is a past chair of the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC) from 2006-2012. She brings with her the valuable combination of clinical practice as a licensed occupational therapist combined with health care policy experience at the state and federal levels. Dr. Lamb’s expertise includes health policy, advocacy, prevention and wellness, leadership development, organizational change, managing professional burnout and professional wellbeing, and occupational therapy as a career.
Dr. Lamb received both her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy and her post professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Her policy experience began in the Minnesota House of Representatives working with the Health Policy committee. From there she went on to be employed by the Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association as their registered lobbyist from 2000-2008.
Dr. Lamb’s clinical expertise spans from private practice, school-based pediatrics, acute care, home health, hospice, older adults and management. In 2011, she received the AOTA Lindy Boggs advocacy award for her leadership in advocacy and political action in the profession of occupational therapy. In 2012, Dr. Lamb was selected to join the American Occupational Therapy Association Roster of Fellows. Dr. Lamb was the 2014 recipient of the Eastern Michigan University College of Health and Human Services Everett L. Marshall Fellow Award for Excellence in Service.
In her volunteer leadership positions, Dr. Lamb is part of the team that helps occupational therapy professionals understand AOTA’s policy and quality agenda’s. She is integral in articulating the distinct value of occupational therapy in traditional and emerging areas of practice including primary health care and wellness initiatives. She speaks regularly to groups on health policy issues impacting practice emphasizing quality services for beneficiaries and provides participants with practical ways to get involved in the process and make their voices heard. Dr. Lamb works to help practitioners, students, educators and researchers identify their role as influencers of change in their daily work as we demonstrate the value of occupational therapy to enhancing the efficiency of systems we work within, enhancing the quality-of-care clients receive, and being a cost effective solution to meet the dynamic needs of the people, populations and communities we serve.
Q & A with Amy:
Please tell us a little about yourself and a few favorite occupations.
I currently reside outside of Dexter, Michigan with my husband Nathan and two emerging adult children Gabby (19) and Josh (17). I strive to learn new things every day and enjoy running, yoga, reading and mindfulness, spending time with my family, cooking, walking our dog, and exploring new places
What motivated you to contribute to this podcast series?
I think it is important to showcase the versatility of the occupational therapy knowledge base, expertise, and applicability of our skills.
Please describe the UncommonOT work that you do and the setting in which you work, the population you serve and the needs that you address.
As an executive coach the work I do is different than other types of coaching like life coaching or health coaching. My clients vary from female executives (c suite, mid-level, and entry level) seeking to continue to grow in their work and bring back some balance into the mix with family life; to people who are in transitions they have decided they want to do something different they aren't sure what path is right and what actions they should take (I have people approaching retirement who have no idea what to do with their time, mid-career individuals who want something more, different, people running for office, moving from clinical roles into higher education and navigating that shift successfully); I also have clients who are new professionals and thought there was something more out there and are seeking the support to navigate the environment they are in to make it better or to make a change and do something different as well as college students who are nearing graduation and seeking support in identifying the right fit for a job and preparing for interviews, negotiations, etc. I have a lot of variety in my work, and I love it! How do I use my OT degree? I use my knowledge, creativity, and expertise every day. As a systems thinker I excel at navigating systems, and I can ask the right questions of my clients to help them discover the answers and create the path that works best for them. As OT professionals we often are solving problems for others, I'm modifying that in how I support my clients. It is not about me giving them the answers, the answers are within them generally. It is developing skills to help them be successful, supporting the integration of skills into the environment, etc.
How did you get there? Can you describe your path?
I came into OT because I like to help people. So, I did, or at least I hope I did. I've worked in a great variety of practice settings; I started a nonprofit; I've had my own consulting business which has done everything from clinical private practice to being an expert reviewer to program development, etc.; I have a good knowledge base in all parts of policy development as well as the political process that surrounds it; I've worked in advocacy organizations and lead political action committees and campaigns. I've worked in higher education, industry, executive leadership, midlevel leadership and entry level leadership. I've ran grant funded programs; been a manager, etc. Something in every fiber of my being is I like to make things better for people/organizations while I'm there. Strategic is my top strength and when you combine this with my systems thinking view of the world I see problems quickly, I see patterns surrounding it and see spots where it is amenable to change. My brain moves fast, I like change and think there are many parts of the areas I've worked above that need to change, and I worked to change in my time there. Here I am 20+years in asking how do I use all this knowledge and expertise? How do I maximize my reach? It is by reaching into these areas and lifting others up, helping them make their spot in the world better, etc. I believe to the core of my being that we rise by lifting others. This is what I am focused on doing every day and I love that I'm able to make a difference in the lives of people and in the lives of their organizations and who they reach through my efforts. It is a gift, every day.
Please describe a typical day or OT session at your uncommon setting? What OT skills do you utilize?
I don't know that I have a typical day. I ask questions, a lot of questions. Always have and I finally have a position that values it.
Can you talk about some recent highs (successes) and lows (challenges) of your current role?
I love seeing my clients succeed. When they are learning to lean into their authenticity at work and at home; when they stop depriving themselves of self-care; when they realize they have so much to give and are valued. That is my happy place. Challenges I'd say is people who think I have left the profession. I have not left the profession and will not. My path might look different than people who have had some of the positions and responsibilities similar to mine. I have always walked my own path and I believe that I'm modeling that for our profession and showing the diversity in how we put our skills to practice.
How do you continue to learn in order to stay on top of things within your role?
I learn everyday! I block time each week for my own professional development and business management. I made the purposeful decision to not hire people for things I know I could have hired people for to get it done faster. I wanted the experience of learning to do some of these new roles myself; at some point I might hand them off; today I'm embracing the learning!
Can you share a little bit about salary and compensation in this setting? How do OT or the services you provide get funded?
I'm a cash based business
Any career advice for our followers and listeners on how to get started on this path?
Take one step forward, then another. You don't have to know all the answers or how it will work out in five years, you just need to start. Surround yourself with positive people who will lift you up and not crush your ideas/spirit. Prepare to fail, not everything will work and that is okay - we learn the most from our failures it seems and if we learn from them then they are not failures they are learning experiences.
What’s a common myth or misconception about your job/role you’d like to call out or demystify?
People think I will give them all the answers.
How do we find you, follow you, be in touch with you, and promote your unique work?
linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-lamb-bb92024/
RESOURCES:
Clifton Strengths
https://happentoyourcareer.com/clifton-strengths-assessment/
Gallup Organization
https://www.gallup.com/corporate/212336/index.aspx
As always, I welcome any feedback & ideas from all of you or if you are interested in being a guest on future episodes, please do not hesitate to contact Patricia Motus at transitionsot@gmail.com or DM via Instagram @transitionsot
THANK YOU for LISTENING, FOLLOWING, DOWNLOADING, RATING, REVIEWING & SHARING “The Uncommon OT Series” Podcast with all your OTP friends and colleagues!
Full Episodes and Q & A only available at:
https://www.wholistic-transitions.com/the-uncommon-ot-series
Sign Up NOW for the Transitions OT Email List to Receive the FREE
List of Uncommon OT Practice Settings
https://www.wholistic-transitions.com/transitionsot
Happy Listening Everyone!
Big OT Love!
All views are mine and guests own.
Be a Patron to support The Uncommon OT Series Podcast project via Patreon.
