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The family friendly workplace

 

 family friendly post

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate.

 

The United States is currently experiencing economic growth that has created a record low unemployment rate and increased the competition for skilled and motivated employees.  The 2016 census reports that 32% of the active workforce have children (per: Bureau of Statistics).  Among those who have graduated from college in the past 20 years are men and women with advanced degrees who are eager to participate in the workforce but must balance the demands of the job with the responsibility of raising children or caring for elderly parents.  In order to capitalize on the talents of those who wish to work, corporations are taking steps to make the workplace more friendly for those with family obligations. The intent is to attract highly qualified people to join their team and to provide incentives to retain those already filling key positions.

 

Every year Fortune magazine posts its list of the 100 Best Workplaces in America and, no surprise, those at the top are known for their family friendly approach to developing human resources.  This year, Wegman’s, a food market headquartered in New York, moved into the #2 position on the list partly because they offer many perks to help those who are juggling career and family. Wegman’s management puts an emphasis on building a preferred workplace for every employee and then provides incentives that boost their family-friendly rating.  Special benefits offered by Wegman’s include lactation rooms, fertility treatment, and paid leave to care for a sick child.   Family-friendly at Wegman’s includes measures to make the store kid-friendly for customers.  The store in St. Louis boasts of 15 kid-friendly features in their store.

 

A blog posted on care@work rates Edward Jones as #5 on the short list of top ten family-friendly employers.  At EJ, families can opt for a baseball tickets overnight family retreats at company expense.  And new moms “can take up to 120 paid days off for maternity leave.”

 

Attracting and retaining highly skilled workers is just as important in healthcare as it is at the supermarket.  Like the workers on Main street, many who work in healthcare must balance personal and professional lives using multi-dimensional equilibrium that ensures quality patient care and meets personal family needs.   Frontline healthcare team leaders are seldom able to implement sweeping changes in corporate benefits; however, there are things that they can do to make an individual workgroup more family friendly.

  • Listen and connect. Connecting with team members on a personal level is a key element of good leadership and is especially important when building a family friendly workplace.   Take an interest in things that are important to those you supervise and learn the names, ages and interests of their children.  Be sensitive to the coordination that the worker must do daily to ensure that children are able to attend activities, eat meals, do schoolwork and keep a reasonable sleep schedule.  Having empathy will elevate your understanding of the workers needs and open your eyes to ways to help the person meet his/her obligations.
  • Flexible time. When it comes to a work schedule, one size does not always fit all.  Workers coordinate with their partners for delivery and pick-up of children and the timing may not always fit your traditional schedule.  For example, Ana is a valuable team member but can not deliver children to school and be at work promptly at 7am.  Her creative manager shifted Ana’s work schedule to have her arrive at 8am and then be the person to stay an hour later than the others in the afternoon.  With the flexible schedule, Ana’s needs are met, and the workplace has a reliable person who ensures the afternoon shut-down process is done correctly.
  • Job sharing. All-star workers who have just become moms may not have the stamina to work full time and meet home obligations.  Rather than losing highly effective workers, offer the opportunity other team players to combine and cover one full time position collectively.  For example, at our workplace a young mom-to-be does not want to quit her job, nor does she feel able to work full time and care for her baby.  Another person on the team who is toward the end of her career feels the need to cut back and work only a few days per week.  Encouraging them share a position retains skilled workers and leaves the manager with one position to fill rather than two.
  • Switch to part time. Building a flexible part time schedule for a worker whom you don’t want to lose is another key to maintaining a cohesive team.  Often, the request to convert to part time comes from a worker who has obligations caring for an elderly parent, or grandchildren or who has earned his stripes and wants to cut back.  Accommodating the cut-back request sends a message that you value the person and want him/her on the team, even if only part time.
  • Remote work. Although working from home is not possible for a person delivering hands-on care, there are behind-the-scenes jobs that do not require the person to physically be at the workplace.  For example, a busy GI center makes two pre-procedure calls to each patient to ensure that they understand the bowel prep and know when and where to report the day of the procedure.  In addition, every post procedure patient receives a phone call.  The process requires two nurses to spend the entire day on the phone; calls that could be made from home just as easily as from the GI center.   Other tasks such as ordering supplies, building work schedules or revising policies/procedures could also be done from a home computer.
  • Healthy family days. Think beyond the traditional workday and offer family friendly days for healthy activities.  Schedule a Saturday morning day at the playground or a Sunday afternoon picnic in the park and have activities for children of all ages.  Adults will network, children will play, and a fun time will be had by all.

 

Does family-friendly matter?  Ask a colleague who has been challenged with a special family need.  Those who were supported by their employer feel a bond of loyalty with the organization and become highly committed to the job.  In contrast, those who were treated as #1 Nuisance feel no loyalty and become disgruntled employees.   Here are a few examples that I have personally witnessed:

  • An anesthesiologist friend of mine reinforced the importance of supporting family needs by sharing the story that his wife required 6 weeks of bedrest prior to the delivery of their first child. His employer told him immediately that his wife was his top priority and that the team would work around whatever schedule was needed to accommodate his wife’s care.  Following a successful delivery of a healthy baby, he is a loyal employee who continues to sing praises for the employer.
  • A member of our small perioperative team had a child with a special event at school at 7:30am.  All members of the team agreed to start the room at 10am that day and stay late if needed to complete cases.
  • A member of our team suffered a severe burn that required ICU and follow-up surgery. He was on the low end of the pay scale and could not afford his $5000 medical deductible.  The team rallied and in short order raised the required money to ensure that our colleague received the best possible care.

 

Teams that go the extra mile to take care of colleagues with family needs are rewarded with a team member who is totally committed to the group and ready to step in when others are in need.  The return on investment is high.

 

When it comes right down to it, blood is thicker than water.  Water is important, of course.  It nourishes the family, even makes the family possible.   But, as a leader, never forget that family will always be the first concern of all workers; the reason they work extra hours when needed, the reason they agree to imperfect contracts, and the reason they are loyal to a family-friendly workplace.  When you hire a worker, you are hiring his/her family and it behooves you and the entire healthcare industry to listen, to learn and to lead accordingly.  The time and effort that you put into creating a family friendly workplace will reap benefits for decades into the future.

 

Tom is a noted author, enthusiastic speaker, committed leadership developer and superb clinical anesthetist.   Contact tom@prosynex.com to book a speaking engagement.

Perception; The first step to success

perception post

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

 

“All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.”

~Leonardo da Vinci

 

John is an experienced, highly motivated worker who is frequently assigned important projects with a short timeline.  Regardless of the demands that are placed upon him, John can hunker down and gitter-done to complete projects on time.  MaryAnn, John’s colleague, holds him in high esteem and respects his tenacity and ability to focus on a project.  Kevin, another colleague, views John as aloof, hidden behind his computer in order to avoid interaction with others. He judges him with disregard.

Mary Ann and Kevin have witnessed the same person and the same behaviors and draw opposite conclusions. Yet, in their own minds, both colleagues have developed perceptions that are fair and accurate.

Perception is reality to the observer and how you are perceived by others will have a lasting effect on your career.  People who create a positive memory of themselves tend to advance while those who project a negative image do not.   Stephanie Ketchum, contributor to fairygodboss.com, agrees that the memories created through observation have a lasting effect noting that “…a positive perception generated by visibility is a key factor for earning a promotion in an organization.”  Ketchum offers four suggestions for creating a positive image that others will remember.

  • Get assigned to important jobs. Let you boss know that you are ready to step up by asking to head a project or join a team working on a vital issue.  Once the assignment is made, deliver more than is required in a timely manner to demonstrate your effectiveness.
  • Gain face time with leadership, make personal contact. Being in the presence of people at all levels of the chain of command makes you a known commodity and a person to be considered when projects are assigned.  Gaining personal interaction with those at the executive level is more difficult but possible.  Attend receptions and participate in community projects that are endorsed by your CEO.  Upper level leaders of your organization want a positive public image and often will put on the gloves and spend a day working on a service project…hopefully, next to you.
  • Speak up and share ideas. Those who do the job are the experts who best know areas in need of change and have ideas for improving workflow.  Trust your observations and share your ideas.  Frequently, those who identify a problem and propose a solution are the ones who are put in charge of the project and earn recognition when the job is brought to completion.
  • Become known. Creating a positive image within the organization requires that you expand your boundaries and become known beyond your workgroup.  Actively seek to participate in projects that involve collaborating with people from other work teams.  For example, a perioperative safety program requires people from pre-op, intra-op, post-op and anesthesia to work together to achieve a common goal.

 

As healthcare workers, we are skilled professionals who provide vital services to the patient population. In the process, our activities and attitudes are constantly under surveillance by both co-workers, patients and leaders.   As such, our careers will be advanced or broken based on the perception we create as we do our jobs.  MaryAnn is impressed by John’s efficiency and ability to complete a task; however, Kevin is put off by John’s lack of people skills.  Although John’s expertise and commitment to timelines is a magnet for significant assignments, he doesn’t appear to work collaboratively and make personal friends with others who can participate in the project.  Consequently, the vital work that John does to advance his team remains unknown to others in the organization.  It’s each emerging leader’s responsibility to be a magician who can create the image of being the person who can take an idea, develop a plan and engage others to bring the project to completion.   Combine hard work, self-confidence and collaboration to create a perception that the team cannot function without you.

 

Tom is a noted author, enthusiastic speaker, committed leadership developer and superb clinical anesthetist.   Contact tom@prosynex.com to book a speaking engagement.

Encore Hilton Head 2019

 

HH post 1

Meeting Date: May 2019

Meeting location:  Hilton Head, SC

Meeting sponsor: Encore Symposiums

Strengths of the meeting:  Great speakers, timely topics and an attentive group of participants.  As always, Encore picks the best hotels and provides the best breakfast of any meeting that I have attended.


Suggestions for improvement:  None


Value for the money:  Excellent

Atlas Shrugged again

Atlas post

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

 

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

 

In 1957, author, Ayn Rand, released the powerful novel, Atlas Shrugged.   Over 60 years later, the book continues to provide insight for creative entrepreneurs and fodder for heated debate between capitalists and socialists.

 

The storyline of the novel showcases business tycoons who use only objectivism, rather than faith or emotion, to obtain evidence, ascertain the truth and set the best course of action.  The courageous Atlas characters who use evidence to gain insight and then act rise to the top, and the compliant, under-achieving sycophants become dependent upon the government for protection.  As the story progresses, the most creative minds and bodies vanish one by one until, finally, their previous importance/value to national socioeconomics is revealed.  Readers who doggedly complete the 1168-page book until Dagny departs, will gain a new appreciation for the value of logic and individualism in the creation of success both in business and one’s personal life.

 

“What greater wealth is there than to own your life and to spend it on growing? Every living thing must grow. It can’t stand still. It must grow or perish.”   ~Ayn Rand

 

Today’s workplace continues to have leaders with insight who can create a vision, look at reality and develop a plan to achieve a goal.  Author Robert Tracinski applied the principles from Ayn Rand’s classic novel to modern business leadership in his article published in The Federalist (2017).   Building upon Trancinski’s work, allow me to take the 7 lessons that he identified in Atlas Shrugged and apply them to healthcare leadership.

  • Know the business from the ground up. The quickest way to fail is to lead people who know more about the business than you do.  A grocery store chain in Texas is known for requiring every manager/leader hired by the company to spend the first 6 months stocking shelves and running cash registers before moving on to their intended position.  Likewise, healthcare leaders at every level must know more than how to do their job; they must also know the culture of the organization.  A Chief CRNA or an OR manager must know the overall workflow of the perioperative process and then follow up by appreciating the jobs done by other members of the team.
  • Earn respect. Entry level respect is earned by bearing the title of “designated boss,” whereby, authority is based solely on position.  True respect is earned over time and grows from personal relationships based on honesty, transparency and integrity.  Recognizing and rewarding excellence while mentoring those in need of improvement shows that the leader knows the difference between high and low quality work – an insight that will earn respect from the entire team.
  • Always take responsibility. Crisis management is an important aspect of leadership that comes with the job.  You might not be responsible for creating the state of affairs, but when a worker presents you with a problem, don the mantle of leadership by finding a solution.  Your title places you in a position to deliver like Dagny, and when you’re asked, “Whose responsibility was this?” there is only one answer; “Mine.”
  • Deal with the best talent. When you’re hiring personnel, look beyond technical skills by recruiting and hiring only people who are competent and who share your vision/values.  You can teach skills that are needed for success however you can’t teach work ethic, honesty and integrity.  Hire for values and teach the skills.  When seeking a mentor or expanding your professional network, “play up” and associate with those who have a proven record for success.
  • Set an innovative vision. Focus on the work at hand and insist on excellence in all you do, but never stop looking over the horizon and planning for the future.  You can break the monotony of status quo by having a vision, sharing it and motivating your team to achieve it instead of creating a Groundhog’s Day  Every today is another step toward a better tomorrow.
  • You are not a leader unless you have followers and gaining support is essential. A vision that enhances your personal profit and someone else’s loss is doomed for failure; however, a shared vision that encourages others to gain in tandem with you is likely to be achieved.  It’s OK to reap personal gain but not at the expense of others.
  • Don’t prop up the losers. When a new leader inherits a team, not every member is a high achiever, and some people are dead weight.  With mentoring and professional development, the low achievers will either come to life or they will sink further into being parasites and hangers-on who drain the whole team’s energy and resources.  If the less productive members of The Team do not respond promptly with a change of attitude, cut them loose quickly and cleanly with serving leader civility.

 

The fact that Atlas Shrugged continues to be discussed and debated decades after its publication underscores the impact of the lessons put forth in the book.  The characters who made an impact were the ones with a vision; they used solid personal values, they dealt fairly with others and, collectively, they elevated society.  Modern Hanks in healthcare are NOT building railroads or marketing Reardon steel.   They ARE leading the medical industry into the future using the lessons from Atlas Shrugged to build a new paradigm; one that is patient-centric; one that ensures safety and guarantees better outcomes for each client.  Hop aboard the Taggart train and ride the Rearden rails over the horizon to a healthcare system that is built upon the lessons put forth by Ayn Rand: The assurance that Dagney Delivers.

 

Tom is a noted author, enthusiastic speaker, committed leadership developer and superb clinical anesthetist.   Contact tom@prosynex.com to book a speaking engagement.

Uncommon Courtesy

courtesy post

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on Twitter

 

I arrived at a clinic to sign in for a medical appointment as the receptionist at the check-in window was having an energetic headset phone conversation with a friend.  While continuing planning the food and entertainment for a big birthday party, she handed me a clipboard stacked with forms, indicated with her finger that I should fill them out, and air-pointed toward a chair without missing a word of animated conversation.  Not one word was exchanged between us.  My first encounter as a patient left me feeling as if I were a distraction in her life rather than the reason for her job.

 

Driven by me-centered technology, civility is more and more frequently replaced by indifferent, disrespectful behavior, even in our benevolent healthcare industry.  Common courtesy has become uncommon.  While focusing on the medical task at hand, healthcare workers often ignore the value of using common courtesy to build a relationship with each patient, thereby, improving outcomes and solidifying a client base.  In writing about courtesy in Pharmacoeconomics review, author, Megan Dubina agrees, noting that common courtesy is essential when building positive patient relationships.  In a courteous environment, patients are more trusting of their healthcare providers and more likely to comply with treatment that promotes better overall outcomes.

 

Integral to courtesy is respect.   Though most of us have never had a face to face argument with a patient, there are many less obvious ways in which we may have been unintentionally rude and disrespectful to them.

  • Respect for the right to know. Healthcare providers are very efficient at obtaining informed consent prior to doing a procedure but fail to fully inform the patient about other things related to their care. Introducing yourself and your role in the process opens the door to dialogue that will enable your patient to clarify other questions that he/she may have.
  • Respect for ability to understand. Those with healthcare concerns frequently consult Dr. Google prior to a medical visit and arrive loaded with information from renowned institutions, but the new knowledge is only valuable if the healthcare team listens. Patients may not have medical terminology at the tip of the lip or understand advanced physiology, but they do know their own bodies. They do know how they feel and the changes that have occurred.  On several occasions my non-medical friends have told me that they will never see a certain doctor again because he/she “does not listen.”  They did not feel as if their insight into their own condition was respected.
  • Respect for time. The most common way to generate negative feedback at our ambulatory surgery center is failure to follow a schedule. Patients who sit in the waiting area several hours beyond their scheduled procedures feel as if their time is not valued and they are just another job for the provider to accomplish when he/she gets around to it.  The patient may be losing wages. Their designated drivers may be losing wages.  They all feel inconvenienced and disrespected.

 

Courtesy matters

The Disney corporation and others in the entertainment industry exist at the will of the client.  Since its creation in 1955, Disney has built an empire on four key principles; Safety, Courtesy, Show, and efficiency.  Regardless of the job, each Disney employee is viewed as a cast member and extensive training during orientation is focused on building a culture founded on courtesy. From front office executives to grassroots workers, courtesy in the form of respect is expected during every interaction with a client.  Disney’s loyal customer base is the best evidence for the importance of courteous behavior in the workplace.  In his book, If Disney ran your hospital; 9.5 things that you would do differently, Fred Lee underscores the importance of courtesy, civility and respect for every client and applies Disney’s key principles to healthcare.

 

The culture of courtesy and civility starts at the top and is job one for every member in the organization.  Dr. Reuven Paternak, CEO of Stony Brook University Hospital, sets a high standard with his emphasis on the importance of courtesy and respect as tools to improve the overall patient experience within their system.  His message to the organization includes the following points, equally applicable across the healthcare industry.

  • Introduce yourself. Start conversations by asking open-ended questions about the other person.  Show interest in the person and ask follow-on questions to increase your understanding of the individual and his/her concerns.
  • Listen carefully. Patients can sense changes in their bodies that may not be apparent in tests that have been performed.  Listening attentively adds to your pool of information regarding the symptoms as well as any fear or anxiety that may accompany them.  Avoid interrupting, cutting off or rebutting the patient.
  • Be considerate. Accept what the patient tells without discounting their observations or concerns.  Academic arrogance or dismissiveness will be perceived as rudeness and block the establishment of a collaborative relationship with the patient. Practice saying, “I understand,” and use a demeanor that shows you do.
  • Be on time. Show that you value your patients by valuing their time.  Intentionally overbooking your schedule may make the productivity numbers look great, but it also mandates that patients spend prolonged periods of time in the waiting area.
  • Use basic manners. Saying please, thank you and asking the patient’s permission before starting a procedure are all ways to show your respect for the person on the receiving end of your treatment.
  • Be honest and transparent. Delivering a diagnosis is not always easy, but it must be done openly and with respect for the person receiving the news.  Be empathetic while avoiding false optimism.
  • Take the extra step. Every day there are opportunities to do small things that make a big difference to the patient.  Follow up quickly with anything that is promised to the patient and make referrals immediately. Look beyond your patient and help others in the system who appear to be lost or confused.

 

Several positive consequences emerge when courtesy permeates the workplace.  First and most important, the overall outcome of the medical treatment improves as satisfaction increases. Second, because payors are beginning to link reimbursement to patient approval, the bottom-line financial status of the organization improves. Third, the morale of the staff is elevated due to conscious civility, high quality outcomes and satisfied patients. Finally, a culture of courtesy and collaboration is created that supports the concept of a preferred workplace, a major tool for recruitment and retention.

 

Building an environment that promotes courtesy as an essential element will ensure long-term viability of the organization.  People want to visit the Disney parks, stay in Disney hotels and eat at Disney restaurants because they know the Four Keys will be practiced – they will be treated with courtesy in every respect and the total experience will be amazing.  Families leave their vacation fantasyland wanting more and anxiously awaiting the time when they can return and build newer, greater memories.  As a healthcare leader, you should know, likewise, the value of creating a happy and loyal customer base by building positive memories for each patient and his/her family.   Establishing courtesy as a top priority in your workplace creates the only place that a loyal patient would ever consider going for treatment.

 

Tom is a noted author, enthusiastic speaker, committed leadership developer and superb clinical anesthetist.   Contact tom@prosynex.com to book a speaking engagement.

Take charge of change

change management

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

 

“Somebody ought to…” “If they were smart, they would…”  Workers frequently discuss the management flaws during small talk in the lounge and call on those in charge to fix the system; however, it is common for the very people who criticize and call for change to adamantly resist any disruption of business as usual.  Whether it arises from the front office or from a grassroots movement, and regardless of the merit of a new plan, variation of routine can be intimidating and evoke both active and passive resistance from the same people who are essential for putting a new strategy into action.  Successfully guiding a team through a revision process is a multi-faceted task requiring a leader to unite the workers; a demand that will challenge the skills of even the most experienced boss.

 

“The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress.”

~Charles Kettering

 

 

Writing in The Balance Careers, Susan Heathfield connects effective leadership with managing change by emphasizing the importance of the leader’s commitment to implementing the new policy.  She suggests 5 essential elements for the leader to put in place if modification is to occur smoothly:

  • Have a vision
  • Communicate the vision
  • Be involved in planning
  • Provide structure to support the change
  • Designate an executive champion

 

 

At the core of implementing change is effective communication of both the proposed plan and the reasons that drive the need for adjusting current procedures.   Author Steve Weber (Speakinggump.com) affirms that most people will accept workflow alteration if they understand the vision, are allowed to participate in development, and feel ownership during implementation.   According to Weber, transparent disclosure of the plan and its necessity will have the following effects:

  • Defective systems will adjust
  • Redundant systems will be eliminated
  • Major flaws will be exposed and eliminated
  • Minor flaws will be tweaked

 

Leadership is essential for change implementation and management (CIM) regardless of its scope.   In a recent conversation with a patient, Joe, an executive level consultant for managing change at USAA insurance provided additional insight about the importance of leadership by sharing actual stories from his work. According to Joe, meaningful and lasting change is difficult to impossible without Active Invisible Management (AIM)  Like a duck that appears to be peacefully floating on top of the water and whose legs are churning below the   surface, effective leaders display calm confidence in public while churning out some hard work behind the scenes to push the project forward.  When I asked Pete about obstacles to anticipate when asking workers to set a new course, he noted two things that can derail implementation.

  • The first signs of success  Most of us assume that signs of success are a good thing, but Pete noted that top leaders are busy people and as soon as it appears that success is on the horizon, attention gets diverted to other areas and the project loses its AIM.  Having a designated executive champion who actively works until the new way becomes part of the team culture is essential, particularly when things appear to be going well.
  • Recognition and reward achieved under the old system High achievers who were rewarded under the old system have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.  Leadership must be sensitive and ensure that the most productive people under the old system can also anticipate gaining recognition and reward with the new system.

 

Even after clearly communicating the proposed plan and its necessity, you may still need to address a question from your team; “what’s in it for me?”   Answer the question in a confident manner with a focus on benefits for both the individual and the organization with emphasis on the following:

  • Achieving personal / professional growth
  • Developing adaptive flexibility
  • Challenging old beliefs and accepting alternative methods
  • Showcasing strengths
  • Mastering the stress associated with the unknown
  • Breaking ho-hum routine
  • Opening the opportunity to create a fresh future

 

“Change has a bad reputation in our society. But it isn’t all bad – not by any means. In fact, change is necessary in life – to keep us moving, to keep us growing, to keep us interested. Imagine life without change. It will be static, boring, dull.”
–~Dr. Dennis O’Grady

 

Successfully guiding a team through the process of change is a multi-faceted process that can cause trepidation from even the most experienced leader.  Rather than cowering in fear of the lunchroom nay-sayers, clearly communicate the new plan and engage high-achievers from the old system to assume a prominent position in the new scheme.  Confidently position yourself and your team to be the trailblazers within the organization and be the first to reap the rewards that accompany successful implementation of change.

 

Tom is a noted author, enthusiastic speaker, committed leadership developer and superb clinical anesthetist.   Contact tom@prosynex.com to book a speaking engagement.

Find the right boss

hire your boss

By Tom Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

The blog-o-sphere is clouded with management and leadership articles about how to attract fabulous applicants, how to build an elite team and what it takes to retain the top performers.  On the flipside, there is a paucity of information to guide workers who are searching for the right job with the best boss.  Unfortunately, highly qualified workers are sometimes wooed into joining a team only to find that they have hitched their wagon to the wrong horse.  The Balance Careers writer Susan Heathfield affirms the importance of finding the right boss, noting that that working for a poor boss is the most common reason given by a person who leaves a job.  People don’t leave jobs, they leave bad leaders. In fact, having the right boss may be the single most important factor related to happiness and success in a position.  When you hit the job market, be an informed shopper who avoids chasing pay and benefits. Focus your search on finding the right boss.

 

Chief Technical Officer at Dailymail online, Oleg Vishnepolsky writes, “Choose a boss, not a job. A boss that supports you, trusts you and believes in you will make a great difference in your career.”  That sounds simple and would be if only you could go online and click “order” and “submit.”  Ordering a boss from Amazon is not possible, yet, there are a few things that you can do as you apply and interview for your next job.  Adopt the mindset that you are interviewing them just as they are interviewing you and take responsibility for your future.

 

Start your search by doing your homework and reading blogs regarding the common traits of a great boss.  From the articles, make a list of traits that satisfy your own requirements.   If your list parallels the essentials identified by others, it will include some of these items:

  • Communicates effectively with a pleasant personality
  • Has a vision
  • Makes decisions based on shared values
  • Sets expectations and provides resources
  • Provides timely feedback
  • Demonstrates honesty, transparency and respectfulness
  • Cares about each worker on a personal level
  • Values the perspective that each person adds to the group
  • Is focused on team development
  • Has your back, cuts you slack while maintaining standards
  • Is a working partner who provides mentoring and professional development
  • Makes the workplace enjoyable
  • Recognizes and rewards superior performance

 

The list is followed by the search.   Stumbling on Happiness author Daniel Gilbert gives a comprehensive, evidence-based review of how people perceive and react to various situations. Based on solid research by behavior scientists, he concludes that one of the best indicators of whether you will like something are the reviews of others whom you trust.  So, ask questions of someone who knows your next boss.  Is the person happy at work, fulfilled by his/her job and would he/she recommend the job to a best friend?  According to Gilbert, it is likely that your experience, good or bad, will parallel theirs.

 

After talking with people who know your next boss, your quest continues during the application/interview process.  If you detect a heavy presence of red tape and bureaucracy as you apply, don’t expect it to be any different once you are on the job.  Be certain to read the job description carefully, looking for key words related to teamwork, collaboration and professional development.  Read the mission, vision and values of the organization and determine if they are reflected in the job description.  If not, they are just words on a web site and are not part of the corporate culture.

 

At some point during the interview you will be asked whether you have questions and that is the opening that will allow you to learn about the leadership style of your next supervisor.  Have a list of written, open-ended questions that will get your next boss talking about him/herself and your future colleagues.  IMPORTANT: Word your questions in a manner that does not make the person defensive.  Asking, “How do you…?” or, “Why do you…?” is personal and may generate a cautious answer.  Instead, “Tell me about…,” or “How does the organization handle…?” gives a platform for the person to spill the beans without being put on the spot.  NOTE: if someone other than your next boss does the interview, it is a red flag that you will have a supervisor who is isolated and does not connect with workers.  Listen carefully as the person answers.   Dialogue that is “I” oriented with the leader describing all the wonderful things that he/she has accomplished is a red flag.  Empowering Leaders who elevate their workers and create preferred workplaces will respond in terms of “we” while crediting the team for accomplishments.  It is a particularly good sign when your next boss names people on the team who played an important role in implementing a plan or achieving a goal.  Here are a few questions to ask when you interview

  • Why is this position open? This is a question to ask “trusted others.” If it is due to expansion or retirement, that is fine and you will be told; however, if the void was created by people jumping ship, after you sign on, you will quickly learn why they left.
  • What is the greatest achievement of your team in the past year? This indicates whether the job is ho-hum, day to day routine or if there is a vision and shared goal.  It also gives you one more opportunity to listen to the leader taking credit or giving it.
  • How does the organization handle staffing shortages? A supply of local per diem workers that cover vacations can be healthy; however, if a significant number of shifts are filled by expensive locums who were imported from other parts of the country, it indicates that the team is having difficulty hiring new members locally and leadership may be the reason.
  • What is your favorite part about leading this team? Listen and you will learn about the person’s basic leadership style.  Is the focus on command and control or is it on empowerment and professional development?
  • A year from now I’m at my first annual performance review and I have had an exceptional year; describe it. Listen to the response and discern what is most important to your new boss.  Some will emphasize compliance with policy and high production numbers.  Others will talk about professional growth and the important contribution that you make to the team the organization.  In the middle are those who describe managing the status quo.  You know which to choose.

 

Some people go through an interview and get lucky, happening into an job in a supportive workplace; others roll the dice during the process, hopeful that the job works out but ready to move on if it doesn’t.  A lot of preparation is required for both interviewer and candidate in the process of learning about each other. As part of the prep, acquiring the attitude that you are choosing your chief will position you to weed out poor bosses and sign on with a real leader who wants to hire and promote the best and is the best.

 

Tom is a noted author, enthusiastic speaker, committed leadership developer and superb clinical anesthetist.   Contact tom@prosynex.com to book a speaking engagement.

Artificial Intelligence: The future is now

AI post

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on Twitter

 

“It’s likely that machines will be smarter than us before the end of the century—not just at chess or trivia questions but at just about everything, from mathematics and engineering to science and medicine.”

~ Gary Marcus, Professor/scientist, New York University

 

 

“Son, be smart and plan for the future. Get job security and land yourself a job as a conductor on a train, a great career job that will never go away.” The year 1899 was an exciting time for people who needed fast, reliable transportation and rail service appeared well up to the task of carrying its passengers into the 21st century.

Fast forward to 1999 and the same conversation suggested the child enter the field of healthcare.  After all, as long as there are people, there will be a need for healthcare caregivers.  Today, nearly two decades into the 22nd Century, though the need for caregiving remains high, the healthcare train circa 1999 has long left the station and a new train has pulled in powered by an engine called Technology.

Just as train travelers in 1899 could not imagine the 1903 debut of the flying machine, those of us in healthcare today, especially those on the frontline delivering hands-on patient care, view our future workflow through the lens of today’s practice and can’t imaging things that have not yet been invented.  Although new hardware, software and devices are continually being developed, the awesome advance in technology that will have a monumental effect on healthcare will be artificial intelligence (AI).

Take an Exciting Glimpse Into the Future…

Artificial intelligence is defined as, “…machines that respond to stimulation consistent with traditional responses from humans, given the human capacity for contemplation, judgment, and intention,” says Darrell West, Director of the Center for Technology Innovation.  Stated another way, artificial intelligence involves data bases and algorithms that think, respond as humans would, and do it faster and with more accuracy. Here are some current uses of AI in healthcare.

 

Sepsis

  • Duke University actively uses an AI based sepsis watch protocol in the emergency department. The program feeds vital signs, lab tests and patient histories into a database and opens it to digital scrutiny for analysis.  Emergency room workers are alerted when the computer detects patterns suggestive of the early onset of sepsis.
  • The Johns Hopkins has its own life-saving sepsis alert program called TREWS. The miraculous protocol is being used in the many ICUs on the Baltimore campus simultaneously tracks 27 factors related to sepsis.  Like the Duke protocol, when signs of sepsis emerge, ICU workers are alerted an intervention is initiated.
  • University of Tennessee Children’s hospital is equally committed to eradicating infection and has implemented AI in the ICU with a program like those utilized by Hopkins and Duke.  Using digital insight to analyze multiple real-time factors identifies children in the earliest stages of distress and allows healthcare providers to initiate treatment early in the process.

Disease prediction

  • Mount Sinai Hospital has explored uses of AI going back to the deep dive project of 2018. Rather than looking for a specific condition such as sepsis, the project uploaded over 700,000 medical records into a database and gave the green light for the computer to “learn as you go.”  Deep dive gave latitude for AI to assess the information in a “learn as you go” manner and report the findings.  The program was able to accurately identify individuals who were most likely to develop hypertension, diabetes or other common diseases.  An unexpected finding was the ability to predict those who would develop schizophrenia.
  • Case Western Reserve University has programmed a robot to use AI to detect emotions in people. The robot quickly detects the mood of the person at the moment as well as changes in mood and personality over time.  Currently, the robot is being taught to respond with music, video or conversation to elevate the person’s mood when depression is detected.

Diagnostics

  • Ophthalmology The British Journal of Medicine reports that AI will continue to have a vital and expanding role in the future of ophthalmology. Digital analysis is particularly useful in diagnosing diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.
  • Radiology The use of AI in radiology is predicted to be so successful that it will threaten the existence of the profession. The blog diagnostic imaging forecasts that AI will be able to read radiology images faster and more accurately than a radiologist.  A digital radiologist has the additional advantage of being available 24/7 to a worldwide population.
  • Pathology Similar to radiology, AI is revolutionizing the field of pathology.  Sophisticated programs are being taught to correctly identify the existing disease and will also be able to predict which cells will progress to a serious disease.

Anesthesia

  • Pharmacogenetics Webster defines genome as the complete set of genetic material found in every cell of a person. Pharmacogenetics is the relationship of an individual’s genome to their response to pharmacologic agents.  After genetic mapping, a person’s genetic composition can be reviewed by AI to forecast their exact response to drugs.  The anesthetic of the future will be based on the ability of AI to assess the genome and then provide a detailed prescription of the best combination of medications, the exact doses, and the re-dosing interval customized to the person’s genetic profile.
  • Ventilation Ventilators are being developed which allow AI to guide mechanical ventilation. Smart ventilators will analyze physiologic data and self-adjust to provide optimal exchange of respiratory gases.  When used in an ICU setting, AI ventilators will also prescribe appropriate sedation to complement the ventilation.

 

Encouraging adolescents to enter the healthcare field is still solid advice, however preparation for a career on the frontline of patient care delivery will go beyond science and chemistry and will include preparation in basic digital technology.  Moving healthcare into the future will require the C-word – collaboration between physicians, nurses, technicians and artificial intelligence experts.  Designing a career path that establishes job security into the future does not involve punching tickets on a train.  It requires boarding Starship Enterprise and “going where no [human] has gone before.”

Tom is a respected author, speaker leader, and clinical anesthetist.

Contact tom@procrna.com to book a speaking engagement.

Debrief, learn and excel

Debriefing post

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

 

All too often, opportunity knocks on the door and nobody is home.  Despite our desire to have everything go smoothly and safely with each patient interaction, glitches occur and when they do, opportunities emerge for improving the care that every patient deserves.  Rather than reprimanding the individual involved, insightful leaders respond by opening the door and welcoming the event as an occasion to debrief the entire team and develop a plan to ensure that the incident is not repeated.

 

“When a test pilot comes off a flight, typically there is another pilot to take it up and he believes in the debriefing.  You don’t keep something to yourself.”

 ~Wally Schirra, NASA astronaut

 

The act of debriefing has been an important part of military teamwork for decades.  Timely analysis of an event as it is occurring enables soldiers to address mistakes and make changes while on the battlefield.  Debriefing encourages novel approaches to critical situations and has the additional benefit of fostering relationships that promote team learning.  Similarly, the healthcare battlefield must address a never-ending flow of patients with unique needs that require addressing in a timely manner.  Writing in the British Medical Journal, authors Freytag et al. note that teamwork is the key to reducing medical error and recommend regular team debriefing as avenue for proactively developing a collaborative plan that will reduce or eliminate future medical errors.

 

Debriefing a team does not need to be a punitive or daunting event, rather, it is a format for understanding why the current protocol failed and exploring ways to patch holes to prevent future recurrence.  Leadership and strategy consultant Doug Sundheim proposes a simple four-step process to follow when conducting a team debriefing.  His advice to business leaders is equally applicable in the healthcare community.

Specify a time and place.  Emotions run high when an event occurs or a medical error is made, and knee-jerk responses seldom address the root cause of the incident.  Having a one on one talk to reprimand the person involved destroys morale and does not address the foundational issue.  A better solution is to designate a time and place for the entire team to review the glitch and collaboratively propose a solution.

Create a learning environment.  For the first half of my healthcare career, our department had a monthly morbidity and mortality conference to present a bad outcome and roast the person involved.  Over the years, the M&M conference morphed into a learning experience with the intent of process improvement based on the philosophy of Dr. Peter Pronovost, “every system is perfectly designed to achieve the results it gets.”  Addressing a problem as a system error rather than a personal failure opens the door for the team to find novel ways to design a new system that does not allow the mistake to be repeated.

Gather information.  As the leader, you are privy to information about what happened, however don’t assume that you have all the details of an event.  Those on your team who provide direct patient care are the most knowledgeable about flaws in the system and have insight about correcting them.  When the team assembles, use the time to clarify the following:

  • What was the goal?
  • What was the outcome?
  • Why did we achieve the results that we got?
  • What will we do differently in the future?

 

Develop a plan.  Theory and intellectual understanding are great but they don’t repair a defect in the system.  Take notes as the conversation progresses and use the insight of your team to change the existing system.  The objective is to develop a plan that eliminates the possibility of anyone else repeating the error.

 

The purpose of debriefing is to modify a system, change behavior and improve outcome.  Until the knowledge gained at the debriefing session is put into action, it is only an academic exercise.  Apple CEO, Steve Jobs knew the importance of follow-up and assigned a designated responsible person for each agenda item prior to a meeting.  Corporate trainer Paul Axtel affirms the importance of after meeting action as an essential part of the process for continuous improvement and makes two recommendations:

  • Summarize the meeting notes and distribute them to each person on the team. Written notes creates a document trail and serves as a reminder to each team member regarding the origin of the problem and the consensus for solution.
  • Clarify the plan and expected behavior of team members. When items need additional attention, designate who will be responsible and establish a timeline for completion.

 

The best leaders learn from every experience positive or negative, and constantly seek ways to improve results while promoting individual professional growth.  Medical errors might have devastating consequences or they may create a “near miss” scenario where nobody was injured…but they were at risk.  Glitches represent opportunity knocking on the door and perceptive leaders seize the opportunity to create a learning situation that fixes a defective system, improves safety, and preserves the self-esteem of the team member.  Open the door and welcome a friend.

 

Tom is a clinical anesthetist, noted author and requested speaker.

Evidence Based Leadership

 

evidence based post

By Thomas Davis CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on Twitter

 

Dr. David Sackett, an epidemiologist from McMaster University in Canada, is credited as being one of the early individuals most associated with evidence-based medicine.  “Evidence based medicine,” in the words of Sackett, “is the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.”  The intent of using data to guide care is to move patient care beyond traditional lore and personal experience to a level of treatment based on solid evidence authenticated by research.

 

Building upon the success that evidence-based medicine created in healthcare, insightful business leaders are actively seeking ways to apply evidence-based management in the business community.  Writing in the Harvard Business review, authors Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton note the importance of gathering and using information to support leadership and management decisions.  Their insightful article, Evidence based management, gives examples of business leaders, like GE and Adobe, gathering information in order to revise policies/procedures founded upon documented validation.

 

Examples of evidence-based management in the business community include GE and Adobe making the bold move to eliminate the dreaded annual performance review.  Evidence revealed that APRs focused on the past, caused anxiety and impaired rather than improved performance.  With the clear intention of building a collaborative culture, those same companies now require managers to have frequent one on one talks with employees instead of the APR.  The new system requires managers to discuss ways in which workers can enhance their future performance.  Inherent in the process is listening to employees suggest ways to improve the workflow and efficiency.

 

Communication, mutual understanding, respect, and ability to work together are four essential pillars that support highly effective workgroups.  Gathering and using evidence to implement those essential items builds a foundation for solid management decisions.  Managing a group of frontline healthcare workers is much different from directing a division at IBM, however the same principles apply.  Taking the time to accrue information will position you as a solid thinker and will earn you the respect of your team and your chain of command.

 

Implementation of evidence-based management within your healthcare team is a 4-step process

  • Ask questions. What are the policies and procedures that make the least sense to you or cause the most stress and anxiety in your team?  Ask further, “Why do they exist, are they effective, and are they necessary?”
  • Search for evidence. Review the literature, survey or interview other leaders, develop a questionnaire for your team and gather real information from every possible source.  Often, similar management issues exist in the business community as in healthcare, and data is available online to guide your leadership decisions.
  • Evaluate the data. Following the collection of information, set up a process to evaluate the data.  A survey with interval and ratio data can be scrutinized with statistical analysis.  Qualitative information collected by the interview process can be coded into themes that identify strengths and weaknesses of current policy.
  • Act on the evidence. Develop a plan to implement the new data and roll it out with a pilot plan.  Agree up front that the pilot is a trial that will be carefully assessed and modified before permanent changes are made to existing policy. Specify a period for the pilot and assess the results to determine if goals were met.  Modify the plan to address deficiencies identified in the trial period and introduce the final version of the new policy for implementation by the entire team.

 

For example, a healthcare team was not satisfied with the results achieved by their current one size fits all bonus system where each person received the same amount of money regardless of productivity. Using the four-step process, the system was questioned, and team members agreed that the system was not fair, nor did it reward high achievers.  Literature was reviewed and other leaders were questioned in the process of gathering information about alternative applications of bonus money.  With fresh information in hand, a new plan was developed with defined metrics that when achieved, moved the person to a higher bonus level.  Under the new system, everybody had the opportunity to receive the highest bonus, however benchmarks were required in order to earn the reward.  Some on the team were driven by the money and others were driven by the status of achieving the upper tier.  Regardless of the personal motivation, the productivity of the team soared under the new system.  At the end of the first year, a committee of peers reviewed the process, updated the benchmarks for achieving the highest reward and rolled out the plan for year two.

 

Evidence-based thinking that is currently being applied in the business community emerged from the concept of evidence-based medicine and now has come full circle as it is being applied to healthcare management.  The shift to data-driven decisions breaks the burden of being tied to tradition and opens the door for you to guide your performance and the dynamics within your team in new and insightful ways.  Applying evidence makes healthcare leadership healthy.

 

Tom is a noted author, speaker, clinical anesthetist and is a strong advocate for nurses in leadership roles

Naples Florida 2019

Naples

Meeting Date: March 2019

Meeting location:  Naples, FL

Meeting sponsor: Encore Symposiums

Strengths of the meeting: 

Reviewed by JL:  So much useful information. Great topics to update and refresh us. All of the speakers were really good! Definitely will be doing another conference with Encore!


Suggestions for improvement:

None, great location and great speakers.


Value for the money:

Great price for the credits!

 

Older workers strengthen the team

Older worker post

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

We respect our elders. There is wisdom that comes from experience, and I am not going to stop learning from wise counsel. ~Marcia Fudge

 

Our baby boomers are aging, our healthcare needs are increasing, and our shortage of nurses and other healthcare providers is expanding…an unhealthy situation.  Concurrently, many highly qualified healthcare providers who have reached retirement age are not quite ready to throw in the towel.  Keeping experienced, qualified people on the job adds depth and diversity to the team and reduces the shortfall of workers needed to meet the expanding demand for healthcare services.

 

Arlene Donovan, Forbes.com contributor, confirms that seasoned workers add value to a workgroup. “They possess years of experience, have industry knowledge and are committed collaborators.”  In addition, many older workers have a calming and unifying attitude based on their ability to withstand the battle-scars of past achievement. Blending the wisdom and experience of older workers with the knowledge and enthusiasm of younger workers creates a diverse workgroup uniquely positioned to meet the challenges posed by the expanding patient population.

 

Efforts to broaden the age range and retention in the workforce must go beyond making all capable workers welcome to remain.  It must include active recruiting to bring experienced people back into the workforce.  Many who have recently retired are having second thoughts and would welcome an opportunity to rejoin a team, even if part time, but feel too old to apply for a job.  Reaching out to mature workers opens the door for their return to the job.

 

Glassdoor.com, author, Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, highlights several characteristics of mature workers that make them valuable team members.

  • Problem solving  With decades of experience, veteran workers have overcome challenges and deadlines, have a network of connections in place, and know the most efficient way to bring a project to completion.  Along with adding insight, in stressful situations they have a calming influence that that generates confidence.
  • Perspective  Seasoned workers know that not every project is urgent and not every deadline is firm or realistic.  By drawing on experience, they are able to discern the difference and when to focus on urgent tasks prior to addressing other issues.
  • Knowledge  Older workers may not have the same knowledge base as younger workers who recently completed advanced degrees, but, as described in the March 24, 2019 procrna.com blog, there is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom, and both are important.  Where older workers lack textbook knowledge, they win the prize for perceptive common sense.
  • Capacity to grow/learn. It is a myth that older workers are set in their way and resist change.  To the contrary, older workers have spent a lifetime implementing change and know how to do it.  Today’s workers who are in their 60s and 70s were the activists of the 1960s and 1970s who spearheaded the civil rights movement and attended Woodstock.  The hair may be gray, but the spirit remains.
  • Mentoring.  Older workers want to share their stories and ensure that those who follow in their footsteps have the benefit of their experience.  Older workers tend to be willing mentors who are eager to leave a legacy through the work of the next generation.

 

Attracting older workers to apply for a position in your organization should not be a daunting task.  It is a myth that the long-serving people who join, or rejoin, your group will try to steal your leadership position or demand a higher level of pay.  Experience from the business community has revealed the opposite; older workers want to share their experience, but they do not want the responsibility of being the boss nor do they expect top dollar in the pay check.  Whereas younger workers are attracted to pay/benefits, school districts and flexible hours, older workers are working because they want to and are attracted by things that make them feel valued.   When recruiting older workers, appeal to the following:

  • Competitiveness Senior workers who wish to remain in the workforce have been the innovators of change throughout their careers and even though they are no longer leaders, their competitiveness remains.  Their desire to achieve will lift the performance of the team.
  • Wisdom The transfer of knowledge into action requires the judgment, foresight and prudence that older workers have accumulated over the span of a career.   Your elders know how to get the job done.
  • Place in life Mature workers are at a place in life where they are neither harried by the schedules of their children nor encumbered by leadership responsibilities.  Appeal to their needs by offering flexible work schedules that allow them to travel, visit their children and grandchildren or pursue the other activities that keep them in shape for continuing to work.
  • Flexibility Appreciate and place value on the flexibility that older workers offer the collective welfare of the team as they fill schedule positions that are difficult for younger workers who are raising young children. You’ll find that the grandparents on your team who have been there, done that, will help out where others cannot.

 

Baby boomers ARE aging, and their health needs ARE changing; and, they bring balance to the ever-expanding need in health care.  Engage with the gray-haired and tie-dyed who still want to work and you’ll rediscover what, sooner or later, you will experience…decades of wisdom based on experience, a wonderfully collaborative spirit, and the dedicated dependability of those who truly want to help build the bridge to a healthy situation.

Tom is a clinical anesthetist, noted author and requested speaker.

Don’t let intellect ruin your career

intellect post

 

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

My wife records travel shows – relentlessly.  We watch Hawaii Life, Rudy Maxa, Samantha Brown, International Househunters, Rick Steves, oh, and did I mention Hawaii Life?  “Ya just have to want it!”  Recently, an online fitness trainer from Austin, house hunting in Colombia with his online public health care provider wife, is quoted by HGTV, saying, “I have no idea what it feels like to be wrong!” Some viewers might laugh, some might shrug but some of us would walk away disliking him, much like we dislike the person who’s so smart he’s become an active boss and inactive leader.

Intelligent, dynamic people who can take charge and give clear directions are often promoted to leadership roles and when intellect, charisma and the ability to connect with team members are in balance, teams thrive and all is well.  In contrast, when balance is lacking, teams falter and leaders fail.  In leadership, all smarts and no savvy is a dangerous combination.

According to Harvard Business Review contributor, Alice Boyes, very smart people can overplay their intelligence and sabotage their own careers along with team growth.   She advises that intellect should be used to promote the entire team and must never be used in a way that devalues any member.  Linking one’s self-esteem to intelligence and always needing to be right is a sure-fire way to kill effective teamwork.

 

Pitfalls for Smart Leaders to Avoid

I’m smarter than you and therefore wiser.   Management issues contributor, Peter Vajda, says that there is a big difference between being intelligent versus being wise and refers to wisdom as the “right use of knowledge.”  When I was working as a clinical instructor earlier in my career, one of my co-instructors was viewed by many as being “dumber than dirt” when it came to quoting textbooks or the latest research; however, he had a real gift for applying knowledge and getting the job done.  The “smart ones” on the staff were awed by Jim’s clinical wisdom when responding to a crisis and his ability to save the day.  Really smart people know that wisdom trumps intellect.

I’m smarter than you that’s why I was chosen as the leader.  No question, intelligence is an attribute in managers at all levels.  However, it is only a piece of the puzzle.  The ability to connect with individuals and motivate a group to achieve a common goal, and the wherewithal to function as a contributing teammate, is more important than raw intellect.   In another department chief experience, a middle-manager who had previously been assigned as a sub-group Lead, consistently came across as being smarter than everyone else.  A bright and capable person, she was working on a doctorate and flaunted her intelligence in every conversation, trying to make certain that people walked away feeling insignificant and honored that she had talked to them.  Though she eagerly pursued greater leadership opportunities, she was regularly passed over because of her superior attitude.  Clearly, potential for rising in the ranks can be knocked off the track by placing your book smarts above smart interaction.

I’m smarter than you so you can put up and shut up.  Authoritarian leadership is needed on a battlefield, during a natural disaster and especially in a code situation, but heavy-handed bullying, or blatant arrogance disguised as intelligence, is divisive and will kill team loyalty.  For everyday management under normal circumstances, collaborative teamwork that recognizes and employs collective intelligence wins the day.  At one point in my military career, I worked for a department Chair who governed by strictly worded “do this or there will be a penalty” memos.  He assumed that he was appointed to the leadership position because he was the smartest person in organization and demanded compliance to his whims.  Within a year, the department was in near mutiny and the leader was replaced.

I’m smarter than you so I can share what I know when I want and with whom.  Allowing team members to struggle with a project by intentionally withholding information is self-defeating.  As well, when a leader is privy to information before it is released publicly and shares it selectively to the chosen few, an inner circle of loyal supporters is created, dividing the privileged few from the many.  Eventually, your team will become polarized and collaboration, the key to team building, goes out the window.

I’m smarter than you and I can hang out with smart people, not with you.  Upward climbers are prone to becoming elitists who clamor to spend their time and attention at or above their current level of responsibility.   Reportedly, a new department chair at a major teaching hospital assumed the helm of the department and quickly turned her focus to connecting with other department chairs and hanging out with organization’s top leadership.  In the process, communication with the remaining 80% of the department was scant and impersonal.  By limiting your contact to smart people in the know, an opportunity for both team and personal growth will be lost.

The best leaders are multidimensional and bring many skills to the job.  Intelligence is important, but never forget as a leader that the nucleus of the organization is the team and intellect by itself will not produce effective teamwork. The combination of applying intelligence to create a vision, using charisma to motivate others and having the savvy to pull it all together is a formula for success.  Rather than bossing like an intellect who “has no idea what it feels like to be wrong,” balance your smarts with your other leadership talents and actively travel with the team.

A noted speaker and author, invite Tom to speak to your organization.

Prevail over office politics

politics post

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on Twitter

When experienced leaders are asked to list things that they like the least about their position of authority, “office politics” will be high on the list of annoyances.   Similarly, when rank and file workers are asked to name several things that they dislike about their work environment, “office politics” makes their list too!  Disruptive sub-agendas in the workplace cause trepidation among leaders and create conflict among workers, yet politics is accepted as a natural component of the environment.

Webster and Wikipedia both agree that office politics involves the use of power and authority to gain and keep an advantage over co-workers or business competitors.  The concept is simple; those with P&A constantly use politics to expand and solidify their position.  Strong, designated bosses can use authoritarian power that goes with the position to enforce compliance however, savvy leaders know that using a touch of politics will create a team that wants to follow rather than a team that must follow.

In contrast, where strong leadership is absent, quasi leaders emerge to shape the opinions of co-workers and undermine the agenda of the designated leader.  Opinion leaders claim power by controlling the emotions of their peers, often by starting rumors that generate fear and anxiety.  In dysfunctional workgroups that are void of effective leadership, the quasi-leaders often have more power than the person with the title.   Workers who want to be loyal to the organization are stressed by the conflict of choosing between the designated leader and the opinion leader.  When left unchecked, opinion leaders gain power and can ruin both morale and productivity.

 

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors” ~Plato

 

Politics in the workplace may arise from many different sources.  Harvard Business Review contributor Michael Jarrett identifies several dynamic forces that fuel office politics, including the following.

  • Grassroots politics – generated by the buzz that exists just below the radar screen of the designated leader or organizational administration. Opinion leaders spin and spread enough fear to undermine just about any initiative put forth by leaders.  Because gossip and rumor are the vehicles for spreading discord, there is seldom accountability for instigators.
  • Authority politics – linked to the official title or role of the individual. The designated leader or a person appointed to head a project may use her position to coerce others into obedience.
  • Policy politics – wielded by individuals who memorize the rule book and quickly report anyone whose behavior is suspect. Rather than addressing an issue with the offending person, the rule mongers quickly file a complaint with HR or any authority who will listen and act.
  • Status quo politics – emerging from established norms, assumptions and unspoken routines. “We have always done it that way,” rules the day and those in the cocoon of comfort generated by routine will fight any disruption to workplace habits.

 

Stop the shaking at your knees and lead with confidence.  As the leader, you have an opportunity to view workplace politics as a dynamic source of energy that can be tapped and directed to produce impressive results.  Put the harness on runaway politics and channel team energy into more productive activities by adopting and practicing the following leadership behaviors.

Learn the office culture.  Be confident of your ability and agenda while discovering who the opinion leaders in your group are.  Identify your sources of support and use positive politics to ensure that they are allies.  Assess the status quo of your workplace and consider that many elements of the daily routine serve a positive purpose and enhance the workflow.  Before implementing change, evaluate the level of support for the new policy, and be politically aware by fully informing the team of the need for change well in advance of implementation.   “Knee jerk” policy implementation fuels the furnace of political rivals and ensures sabotage.

Don’t burn bridges.  Divide and conquer is an established military strategy and those who would steal your political power are energized whenever you have a rift with another person.  Avoid emotional responses that poison personal relationships and consider that today’s foe may be tomorrow’s ally.  Don’t turn a blind eye to bad behavior, instead, address every issue in a mature manner that addresses the problem while maintaining a positive relationship with the individual.

Never allow gossip.  The undercurrent of gossip that is ubiquitous in many workplaces only serves to empower opinion leaders and may be used to sabotage you.  Do not participate in gossip and cut it off immediately by dispelling rumors.   As a leader charged with improving the morale of a group, I gained political respect by publishing a weekly update which included the “rumor mill”.  In that space I directly addressed any current rumors by transparently informing the group of the truth.  In short order, rather than gossip, people came to me unswervingly to clarify rumors.

There are no unimportant people.  Display charismatic politics by connecting with everyone on the team on a personal level including, and especially, the opinion leaders.  Be professional and remain on alert that they will try to control you.  Take responsibility for your relationships and give the loyal opinion leaders on your team additional responsibility and then recognize/reward them when they are productive.

Be strategic.  What is your long-term goal for the team and what are the steps that must be taken to get there?  Start with small projects and put others in a logical sequence so that you can build momentum as you go.  Again, give appropriate recognition to your all of your high achievers whenever possible.

Be collaborative.  The positive use of politics augments effective teamwork, unites individuals, enhances morale and eliminates power struggles that fuel office politics.  Creating interdependence and a sense of shared responsibility puts you clearly in control as the leader and strips power from those who would take yours.

 

Think of politics as a use of power.  The politics of the 60s united a nation and landed a man on the moon whereas the politics of the 70s divided a nation and mandated the retreat from Viet Nam.  Workplace politics are less sensational but equally control the mood and productivity of a team.   Capitalize on the collective strength of your team, take charge, and use the political capital that comes with your position to build a cohesive and productive workplace.

 

Tom is a clinical anesthetist, noted author and requested speaker.

Boost your credibility

 
credibility post

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

Would you have faith in the information that you received from a person for whom you had little respect and trust?  Even if you gave the person the benefit of doubt, you would be likely to view the information with skepticism and validate the report before fully it.  That is because respect and trust go to the heart and soul of being believed.  Whether you are starting to climb the professional ladder, or reaching down to assist others with their ascent, when you’re dealing with others, your personal credibility will either enhance or kill the results you achieve.

Business is conducted at the speed of relationships and credibility is the gatekeeper that will makes or breaks the deal.  Forbes.com contributor, Victor Lipman, reinforces the notion that credibility puts spurs to the process of making a deal.  For example, at one point, Warren Buffett’s company sought to make a 23 billion-dollar deal that normally would take months, or even years, for lawyers to complete.  Based on the personal credibility established during previous deals between Mr. Buffett and his counterpart, both parties felt secure that the other was working honestly and in good faith.  As a result, the monumental deal was completed in a few short months.

In the movie The legend of Bagger Vance, Rannulph Junuh, played by Matt Damon, is the local favorite locked head to head in competition with the two greatest golfers in the world.  Having trailed for much of the match and now tied with the pros, Junnuh hits a ball into the rough.  “He has a chance to win the match on the final hole but has the integrity to call a penalty on himself when his ball moves after he tries to remove a loose impediment.” (wikipedia).  A young boy and eager fan implores him not obey the mandate, saying, “But nobody saw it move.”  Junnuh replies, “I saw it.”  Honesty and integrity provide credibility, and Rannulph Junnuh had both. Sometimes personal integrity leads to an immediate loss, but it always creates a long-term winner.  You will have to watch for yourself to see who finally wins the match; however, the young golfer’s high ethical standards set a precedent that would build a foundation for honest dealing beyond the golf links.

Follow the example from Bagger Vance and build relationships like those of Mr. Buffett by focusing on behavior to boost your credibility.   Incorporate the following behaviors into all your interactions and establish yourself as an honorable trusted person in all that you do.

Be honest. The call for honesty appears so often in self-help articles that it is almost a meaningless cliché; however, without honesty there can be no trust and without trust, there is no credibility.  A retired used car salesman whom I’ll refer to as Pompous Patient, told me, “If a used car salesman told the truth, he would never sell a car.”  Do you want to do any kind of business with a person who is a professional liar?  In your leadership transactions, move beyond mostly honest and establish a goal of totally honest.  Admit your mistakes and assess yourself a penalty when needed.  Total honesty also involves refusing to turn a blind eye and proactively holding those around you responsible for following established standards.

Deliver results.  It’s easy to volunteer and say yes when someone is needed to tackle a project; however, saying yes puts your integrity on the line.  Credibility is established when the task comes to fruition in a timely manner and achieves the desired outcome.  Protect your reliability by refraining from over-promising and treat all tasks, large or small, as opportunities to deliver results.  When you agree to perform, keep your word and deliver.

Be transparent.  Credible people have the courage to share information, both good and bad, to those who have a need to know.  Trying to shield those around you from bad news is a losing proposition. When you’re the messenger of bad news, put it into context by discussing the reasons behind the decision. Eventually, people always learn the truth and if you have not been forthright, they will have good reason to doubt you in the future.

Be consistent.  Human beings, including your colleagues, thrive on routine and are more relaxed and trusting when the behavior around them is predictable.  By making certain that policies, procedures and rules are known by all and equitably applied, predictability is reinforced.  When administering discipline is required, it must be appropriate for the offense and be meted out evenly to every offender.

Be principled.  Situations change but guiding principles remain constant.   What are the principles that you stand for and guide your deciaion-making?  If you need your consciousness raised, go to jamesclear.com to review a list of values, select 5, and practice, practice, practice.   Your credibility is enhanced when others observe that consistent, principled behavior is who you are and not just something you do.

Lead by example.   Imagine yourself with impeccable credibility and then be the person you visualize.  It’s easy to want or intend to be honest, trusted and credible, however intentions do not change reality.  Personal credibility can only be present when people know your integrity not by what you say, but by what you do.  Your behavior is being observed and will determine the reputation that you create for yourself.

Credibility is a visualized, rehearsed, observed, taught, role-modeled behavior that, lucky for leaders, can be learned. It is often said that we are who we are when no one else is watching. If you consistently set high standards for yourself no matter who’s in the audience, you will earn the reputation of a straight-shooter with whom people want to do business.  You will garner respect and trust, the key components of credibility.

 

Tom is a noted author, speaker and team builder

Compelling messages get results

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By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

follow@procrnatom on twitter

 

“Effective communicators make great friends. They’re open to many things and are able to translate their thoughts into meaningful words and actions.”   ~Patrick Cogen

 

E-mail is an amazing and vital byproduct of the digitalization of America.   At present, it is attractive, affordable and essential for communication between leader and team.  Group messages are an effective way to update and inform an entire team about policy change, workflow alterations or any other topic that affects the group.  Individual messages provide an avenue for private, two-way dialogue related to a specific issue.   The electronic message platform is so familiar that an important message may blend in with the volume of junk mail and go unnoticed and unopened.  Therefore, it is incumbent upon the writer to create a recognizable topic for the subject line, and a compelling message inside that catches the attention of the recipient and demands to be opened.

 

Caution

There are two important cautions to consider before delving into the finer points of writing effective email messages.   Caution #1 Do not use email to avoid personal interaction. Relationships are essential and often make the difference between success or failure of a project.  Janice Nadler Ph.D. published a study revealing that people who introduced themselves with a brief phone call were four times more likely to reach agreement when negotiating via email.  Email used as a time-saving means of communication is a supplement, not a substitute.

Caution #2 Don’t send emails that pose the risk of creating an unwanted paper trail.  Always consider that your messages may be stored or shared so check your amygdala at the keyboard and avoid writing emotional, unkind or nasty rhetoric.  Assume up front that anything you publish thoughtlessly can and will be forwarded in mere seconds to the receiver’s support network.

 

Preparation is key

Before you shoot out a quick message, take a moment to consider the purpose.  What is the single most important concept that you want the reader to remember?  Recipients tend to remember one or two main points and if you shotgun too many topics in the same message, they may remember the one that affects them the most while overlooking the others.  Combine and condense subjects to support a single concept and clearly state the desired respnse of the reader at the end of the message.

 

Identify your target audience and tailor the language of the message to make it easy to understand.  Whether you’re sending a message to a single person or to an entire workgroup, never talk up or down to your reader.  If you are implementing a policy change and notifying people at different levels on the chain of command, develop a separate message for each group.  For example, a workflow change will affect technicians and nurses differently than physicians and APPs.  Developing a message for each group ensures that the information is presented appropriately.

 

Capture the reader’s attention

You can control the words you write and who initially receives it; however, you have no control over whether the receiver opens and reads the message.   Hubspot writer, Olivia Allen, suggests creating a subject line that piques interest, stimulates urgency or is personalized to the reader.  For example, “Vendor sponsored dinner” sparks less interest than a subject line “Dine and earn CME at the Steakhouse.”  If your goal is to get people to read a draft and offer feedback, a subject line “XYZ policy draft, reply by Friday” will stimulate both curiosity and urgency.

 

Power Words make Power Mail

 

Impactful messages begin with a powerful opening and your first two sentences will either win or lose your reader’s attention.  Review your goal and write several versions of the first two sentences making sure to include a few power words.    Blog author John Morrow offers 595 power words that can be incorporated onto your messages to compel the message recipient to continue reading.  Words like amazing, fabulous, remarkable, spectacular, exciting and tremendous might be used to describe an opportunity or an achievement.  Power words like frightening, revolting, toxic, scary staggering or scary can be used to give warning or to describe challenges. Regardless, your message content must be related to and flow from the subject line.

 

“Fools talk because they have to say something whereas the wise talk because they have something worth hearing.”    ~Paul Bowden

 

Once the message is opened, remember, less is better.  One or two short, concise paragraphs will be read attentively, whereas, a rambling message will be visually skimmed over before joining the trash barrel.   Transparency gives the sender credibility, builds trust and maintains the writer’s integrity. If you’re sending a message that will alter the status quo, briefly state the reasons and the benefits.  For example, an ambulatory surgery center required workers to copy two pages from the patient record at the end of each case and submit them to the billing department.  Without prior notification by the employer, the usual copier was removed and workers had to walk down the hall to a different copier. The workers did not welcome the change and gave pushback.  Had the leader sent the group a message informing them of the impending change, openly revealing that removing the extra copier would save $15,000 per year in ink costs, there would have been little dissent.

 

When the purpose of the message is to implement change, there must be a clear description of the next step for the reader.  Workers are comforted when the leader takes charge and has the foresight to state clearly and without ambiguity the exact behavior that is expected from the reader.   Soft messages that only imply but do not specify action will be misread and cause confusion.  After giving a powerful opening to capture attention, a transparent description of the problem, and a clear directive to the reader, summarize the message in 1-2 sentences.   Unless the message is urgent, save a draft and re-read it before it whooshes out to all.

 

Electronic communication is not the wave of the future, it is the reality of today.  Like the junk mail delivered by the postman that you transfer quickly from the mailbox to the trash can, bland email messages go to the electronic trash can with one click. Communication is an essential component of leadership and email is currently the platform of choice for sending electronic messages.  Honing your skills to use current and future digital technology wisely and well, will ignite your leadership and unite your team.

 

Tom is a clinical anesthetist, noted author and requested speaker

Build a Bridge

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The Team Is The Trestle

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

 

Great leaders know that even the most brilliant plans fail without the support of members of the team.  Motivating workers to leap on board to work collaboratively toward a common goal is a challenging yet important part of being a leader.   Don’t be daunted or intimidated by the collective roll of the eyes when you introduce the topic of teambuilding.  Instead, appreciate the importance of inspiring team spirit by doing projects outside the scope of normal work.  In addition to uniting team members, they will experience the reward of creative collaboration and the energy generated from the project will be carried back into the workplace.

On teambuilding.com, Samantha Mc Duffee identifies several essential benefits from teambuilding activities and puts improved communication/collaboration at the top of the list.  When a group who works together daily is removed from the normal workplace and given an open-ended challenge to solve a problem, an amazing spirit of collaboration emerges.  Take for example a teambuilding activity that was used with a group of nurse managers during a leadership course.

  • The large group of eager participants was divided into 5 groups of 5 people; each group was given 25 pieces of uncooked spaghetti, a string, a role of scotch tape and a pair of scissors; the individual groups were challenged to build the tallest tower in 15 minutes.  The simple rules were to use only the materials provided and to work collaborative with a positive focus on what is possible with the available resources.  During the first 5 minutes each group quickly constructed a tower and each tower collapsed; then each group spent the next 10 minutes collaborating to create a better design and re-build the tower.  At the end of the allotted time, each group had a standing tower; however, two tables opted to combine resources, work as a larger group and constructed the tallest tower.  Remember, they were told to work collaboratively and seek the best use of available resources and there was no rule about working across group lines.

Brian Scudamore, founder and CEO of O2E brands, took another avenue toward teambuilding by treating his team to a country music concert at a local dance hall.  They enjoyed sharing the evening together with music, adult beverages and learning the two-step and taking advantage of the relaxed venue outside the workplace to appreciate each other as individuals.  Brian encouraged the team to continue the networking within the workplace and to share personal interests with one another.  From interaction developed during the two-step, a book club emerged. You might not be permitted to treat your workgroup to a night out; however, you may be able to arrange a group discount at the ballpark or reserve a park pavilion for a barbecue.

Community service is important to the image of a company and opens another opportunity for teambuilding.   By serving the community outside the scope of normal business, a bond is created between the organization and the people it serves.  Employees’ hidden talents are revealed and, as well, the community receives support for projects and events important to the local area.  Here are two examples of teambuilding projects that solidified ties between the organization and the community.

 

Example 1   While on faculty at the University of Kansas Medical Center, I participated in the annual KU community service day.  Over 100 energetic volunteers from the hospital assembled in a cold parking lot at 7am on a Saturday morning and were greeted with hot coffee and pastries.  We were told ahead of time to wear work clothes and bring a few basic tools.  The Medical Center had identified a two-block area within the city with run down homes that were inhabited by elderly indigent people and pre-arranged permission for us to do basic repairs on their homes. We went to the neighborhood, divided into teams and went to work.  Some raked, some cleaned gardens and others did inside repairs.  We re-attached cupboard doors, fixed locks, patched cracks and even fixed some plumbing leaks.  At the end of the day the residents of the area were all smiles as were the UKMC volunteers.  I spent my day working with one person from radiology and another from the lab and from that day forward had a point of contact in each area.

Example 2   A group of nurse anesthetists, at The Johns Hopkins was actively seeking a teambuilding activity that would serve the community and arranged to do a craft night at the local Ronald McDonald house.  After scheduling the activity, the team set a goal of providing the most amazing “craft night” ever for the children and families staying at the facility.  Planning sessions were held where creative ideas were shared and then supplies were assembled.  On the big night, children cautiously entered the craft room and quickly became energetic as they engaged in the numerous projects provided.  Parents and siblings jumped into the fun and none were ready to quit at the end of the evening.   As with the experience at KU Med, when the evening was over it was difficult to tell whether the residents of the Ronald McDonald house or the volunteers were the happiest.

Workgroups across the country routinely participate in community service teambuilding activities.  Use the comments box below to share your project with other readers.

Successful teambuilding is evidenced by the momentum that is brought back into the workplace following the event.  Whether joining in a social interaction event or a community volunteer enterprise, those who work collaboratively outside the workplace are more likely to work well together on projects serving the organization.  Encouraging people to enjoy one another’s company and appreciate creative ideas carries innovative vitality forward and becomes contagious.   A collaborative environment is the bridge to elevated productivity in a preferred workplace.  A collaborative team is the trestle linking the organization to the community.  Teambuilding activities strengthen both.

Tom is a clinical anesthetist, noted author and requested speaker.

 

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

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Are you capable, competent, committed to the job and yet feel like your daily routine has you mired in a muddy rut?  You are not alone.   One thing that business, industry and healthcare have in common is that each has a cadre of talented people who feel imprisoned by the status quo and are ready to break the bonds of mediocracy.  Take control of your destiny, shake things up, and gain the recognition/promotion that you deserve.

Both those who are in leadership roles as well as those who are frontline workers must act to position themselves for advancement in the organization.    Cameron Chapman, staff writer at skillcraft, says that it is foolish to wait to be “discovered” at your workplace when there are things that you can do to revitalize your career and increase your value to the organization.   Chapman suggests that you start with self-evaluation and do an honest review of your capabilities compared to your actual work performance.  Begin to resuscitate your career by taking action to close the gap between your current performance and the maximum potential that you are capable of putting into the job.  Here are some simple ways to advance yourself in the pecking order of most valued employees:

Be more assertive.  Confident extroverts infuse energy into a group and are catalysts for productivity, whereas introverts blend in with the environment and go unnoticed.  Take the initiative to up your energy level and set a positive tone for your team.  Even those who are not natural extroverts can be more outgoing by giving every colleague a friendly greeting and engaging in conversation. Be brave, set ambitious, attainable goals and have high expectations for yourself and colleagues.  Positivity is contagious and as you increase your performance, your team will follow suit.

Learn new skills.  Instead of arriving every day with a flat attitude and stagnant skill set, enhance to advance.  Visualize the job that you desire, the skills required for that position, and then find a mentor or take the classes necessary to expand your capabilities.  Taking a course in accounting, personnel management or team development will enhance your existing position as a leader. Mastering the use of new equipment or learning to perform new clinical techniques will advance you as a healthcare provider.

Ask for responsibility.  Meet with your supervisor and ask about the most pressing needs in your workgroup or the organization.   Better yet, identify an existing situation where your team could improve safety or efficiency and offer to head a project to strengthen the team in that area.  For example, the patient handoff between the operating room and recovery room did not include all the basic information required for continuity of care.   Alice, a nurse anesthetist talked to the supervisor and proposed a project to team with a recovery nurse and revise the handoff procedure.  Completion of the project improved patient safety and having a defined format made the process more efficient.

Align yourself with the company culture.  What does your company stand for, why do they exist, and how does your behavior enhance or detract from the greater goal?  Read the mission, vision and values of the company and then assess/modify your behavior to ensure that your action supports the purpose of the organization.  Behavior that is observable by others and supports company values will ensure that you are noticed when people are being considered for promotion.

Increase your networking.   Progress, to include revitalizing your career, happens based on relationships at all levels.  Solidify your relationship with others on the team and then expand your horizon by getting to know the people outside your immediate workgroup.   Never miss an opportunity to extend your hand to meet new people regardless of their title or role in the organization.  As you take on projects, it will become increasingly helpful to know others who can support or mentor your activity.

Eliminate deal breakers for decision makers.   Attitude and physical attributes are components of the perception that you create for others to consider when they are selecting the next person for promotion.  Characteristics that are unwritten, not discussed but affect the final decision include personal hygiene and habits such as a wimpy handshake or a boring communication style.  Clean up your act, literally, interact with confidence and put yourself at the head of the line for the next promotion.

We are each known by our reputations, good or bad.  Breaking the bonds of the status quo, increasing your status in the organization, and positioning yourself for advancement are all tied to the reputation that you build for yourself.  Everything you say and creates a memory and it’s your job to make sure it is a positive picture.  Master new skills, align behavior with company values, and connect with decision-makers to ensure that your name is the first one that comes to mind when your boss is asked to name his/her top performer.

 

Tom is a clinical anesthetist, noted author and requested speaker.

7 Tips for giving Negative Feedback

 

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

 

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“She did what?” I said to the distraught person on the phone as he reported unacceptable behavior that just spewed from a self-assured subordinate whom I supervise.  I took a deep breath and organized my thoughts knowing that the conduct of the arrogant offender required immediate attention and possibly disciplinary action.  We were working in a major medical center with a significant population of international patients.  My irate employee had just been in the face of a non-English speaking patient, shouted ethnic insults, and told the person to learn English or seek care elsewhere…totally unacceptable behavior.

 

In contrast, the infraction of another employee took the form of passive omission.  Employee two was frequently 5-10 minutes late for work in the morning, took 30 minutes to get in sync and consistently extended lunch a few minutes beyond the allotted 30-minute break.  Both situations, one an egregious act of commission and the other a passive act of omission, required honest feedback.

 

Leadership is multi-dimensional and can be simultaneously rewarding and stressful.  When goals are met, and hard-working people exceed expectations, the leader is positioned to hand out recognition and reward to the high achievers.  The unfortunate reality is that not all behavior meets standards and not all goals re met.  Rather than being stressed, view lapses in employee behavior as an opportunity for you to grow as a leader and for the employee to learn valuable lessons about accountability.

 

Lisa Bodell, founder and CEO of FutureThink, writes in Forbes.com that more than 90% of employees would prefer their manager to address mistakes immediately rather than letting weak performance slide until presented in the annual performance review.   This conclusion is affirmed and expanded upon by Social psychologist, Heidi Grant, who further contends the value of immediate feedback and notes that workers who are on the learning curve want praise and positive feedback, whereas experienced employees who want to improve skills desire a more critical review of their performance.

 

The trend for ongoing feedback has prompted companies such as The Gap and Adobe to do away with annual performance reviews altogether and to replace them with mandates for leaders at all levels to provide real-time, ongoing feedback to employees.   The performance yard blogger, John Courtney, touts the benefits of providing negative feedback and recommends using a positive approach that is intended to change the behavior of the individual while preserving the integrity of the individual and the organization.

 

Negative feedback that is purposeful and thoughtful, ensures undesirable behavior is addressed and that offenders know the expected change in behavior.   By following the techniques used by business leaders when you deliver negative feedback to those you supervise, the task of holding team members accountable does not need to be a daunting or stressful experience.

 

Avoid emotional responses.  Both crisis-causing blow-ups and chronic poor performance can trigger an emotional response from the leader.  Whether the behavior of a team member is outrageous or simply disappointing, take a deep breath and collect your thoughts before responding.  Like Coach John Wooden role-modeled in his leadership, (ProSynEx blog, Feb 3, 2019) engage your thinking brain and imagine scenarios that caused the event along with several approaches that will bring resolution.  Avoid a knee-jerk emotional response that will only pour kerosene on the fire to ensure the best outcome.

Gather the facts.  The truth is seldom what appears on the surface.  Attempting to address an issue before the facts are known, may force you to walk your decision back later.  Expect only part of the truth from the person involved and verify what you are told as you get the rest of the story from other perspectives.  A second benefit of fact-finding is that it creates time for your emotions to settle and enables you to find a better solution than your initial knee-jerk response.

Focus on the job.   Don’t take or make the situation personal. Focus on your goals for the team and avoid making an attack on the individual.  Placing an individual on the defensive will obstruct the work that you are trying to accomplish and render him unreceptive to feedback.   Unless the event warrants an employee’s immediate dismissal, approach each situation with the intent of addressing and changing unacceptable behavior.

Be specific.   An overt act of aggression is obvious, however chronic poor performance can be insidious and more difficult to describe.  State your observation honestly and succinctly by giving examples so the individual clearly understands the issue.

Use questions.  The best results are obtained when the person has an ah-ha moment so she can identify ways to correct the problem herself.  Ask the person to explain how her behavior affects the team morale, outcome of the project, or how it affects the goals established by the team or the organization.   State your desired outcome and challenge the person to identify alternative behavior that would better support the goal.  An open dialogue with guided questions will lead to insight about action that will be more productive and achieve better results.

Develop a prevention plan. Feedback without a plan is just a discussion.  Build on your intervention by creating a written plan to outline the expected new behavior as well as a timeline for implementing the change.  A serious infraction may require an apology or formal discipline followed by ongoing monitoring, while other issues, like weak performance, may require mentoring and a renewed commitment to improve performance.

Follow-up.  Establish a timeline and check in frequently with updated honest feedback.  Give positive feedback when it is earned and reinforce boundaries if performance starts to slip.

 

The opportunity to provide negative feedback is a gift for all: Leader, employee and organization. Discussing deficient behavior and is intended to convert a negative into a positive and is most effective when viewed as an opportunity for both the leader and the worker.  On the highest performing teams, people not only know what is expected of them, but also receive feedback frequently in an ongoing manner.  Assume that most employees have a desire to meet your expectations and want to do the right thing; they desire your reaction to their performance, both positive and negative.  Providing timely and constructive feedback enhances your stature as a leader, opens lines of communication and builds the morale of the team.

 

Tom is a clinical anesthetist, noted author and requested speaker.

The Legendary Leadership of John Wooden

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Wooden Wisdom: 

3 lessons from a coaching legend

 

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

 

When asked to name the greatest college basketball coach of all time, many would argue that John Wooden has earned the honor.   While coaching the Bruins at UCLA (1948-1975), the team made it to the final four 12 times, winning the event an astounding ten times.  Even more impressive, he coached the Bruins to four undefeated seasons.

Without a doubt, John was able to recruit and coach talented players, but there was plenty of talent on competing teams.  It was The Wizard’s character and leadership that congealed his players into a unified team with a single purpose, setting his program apart from the competition.  Knowing that pushing good people to work harder would not deliver the desired results, the coach focused on developing individual talents and taught teamwork that capitalized on those innate abilities.

The legendary John Wooden had 3 rules for his team and they were enforced with integrity every day and in every situation.  The same rules that propelled UCLA to basketball fame apply equally in today’s workplace and following them will propel your team to a winning season.

 

The Wizard’s Wizdom

Rule 1: Never curse.  Cursing is an emotional response that results from feeling angry or threatened or when danger is perceived.  Wooden allowed only socially acceptable language within his team and taught the players to control their emotions in order to keep “the thinking brain” engaged in the game.  Research conducted by George & Dane (2018) affirms that anger undermines good decision-making and must be avoided in the workplace.  UCLA’s coach was ahead of the times when he focused on keeping the thinking brain in control.  Likewise, applying rules of civility and respect in the workplace eliminates knee-jerk emotional responses and promotes proactive, creative thinking.

Rule 2: Never criticize a team mate.  The coach’s  ban on criticizing a team mate built an attitude of interdependent collaboration. Nadidah Coveney, of the Forbes coaching council, agrees that collaborative relationships provide a spearhead to success.   Tolerating criticism encourages people to see one another as competitors rather than collaborators and, subsequently, to vie for dominance on the team.  The superb UCLA teams were expected to see themselves as a single unit in which criticizing a team mate equated with criticizing one’s self.  John focused to create teams on which individuals worked to strengthen one another, elevating the entire team.  Trust within the Bruins was earned by collaboration, honesty and actively helping one another. Applied in every workplace, a ban on criticizing team mates includes barring gossip and other acts of sabotage that undermine the morale or productivity of the team.

Rule 3: Never be late.  Coach Wooden viewed promptness as outward sign of respect for one another.  He insisted that practices start on time and, in turn, showed his respect for the group by ensuring that practice ended on time.  He believed that sticking with the schedule was evidence of honesty and integrity, both key elements of a trusting environment.  Corporate recruiter Chitra Reddy affirms this wisdom by noting that mutual respect enhances collaboration and overall productivity.  Team solidarity is created through acts of integrity where members follow through and deliver as promised.

Many work groups are staffed with talented individuals who are competent and capable of doing the assigned job and yet, as with college basketball teams, individual talent may not be enough to win the trophy.   Rather than winning with raw talent, the most successful teams win through collaborative team work.  Following John Wooden’s three rules of controlling emotions, working collectively, and building trust through respect will enable a slam dunk for success.  Now get out there and crash the boards!

Tom is a noted author, speaker and avid advocate

for healthcare leaders.

Scout out a promotion

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

 

 

scout post

Promotions play an essential role in the success of an employee and his organization.   Workers who are recognized and rewarded for their job performance and work ethic tend to develop loyalty to the organization and work even harder to prove that they merit promotion.  As a result, organizations benefit because morale and creativity will be high and employee turnover will be low; both of which are improved when deserving people receive earned promotions.

Employers collectively spend millions of dollars on research and consultants intended to improve the morale and production of the company workforce.  Behavior and neuro sciences help the employer’s managers build superior teams by collaborating with psychologists to gain insight into the profile of the perfect worker.  Author Emily Smykal (2016) identifies work ethic, positive attitude, dependability, and effective, team-oriented communication as skills possessed by the perfect team member.   In a companion article, Smykal describes behavior geared to get high achievers promoted as collaboration, reliability, honesty, ownership, effort, creativity and hard work.

Save your research money and go back to your roots to find the secret of earning a promotion.  In his book, All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten, author, Robert Fulghum, lists 15 lessons learned in kindergarten that enable you to live a balanced and successful life both at home and at work.  Tips such as, “clean up your mess,” and “don’t hit anyone,” are on the list of desired behaviors.

Based on my experience as a Chief nurse anesthetist, I am convinced that we make earning a promotion much more difficult than it needs to be.  My 7-year old grandson learned socialization skills in kindergarten and is now a proud cub scout who is all in trying to learn and follow the scout law.  In reviewing the 12 points of his new code for life, I am struck that his code of conduct describes my ideal employee and the person whom I would select for promotion.  Tailoring your work behavior to follow the 12-point scout law will make you an ideal employee and first in line for a promotion.

The Scout Law

Be Trustworthy   Trust is a foundational building block of a highly effective workplace and it requires that everyone on the team can be trusted.  Show your trustworthiness by arriving on time, completing your assigned tasks and showing sincerity in saying what you mean and following through.  Create an environment of trust by being scrupulously honest.

Be Loyal   Show loyalty to your colleagues by sticking with them through good and bad times.  Show loyalty to your superior and the company by doing your job well and taking pride in your work.

Be Helpful    Those who are helpful freely give assistance to colleagues who are having difficulty with an assignment.  Helpers assist and coach others without crossing the line and playing rescuer.

Be Friendly   Being friendly and upbeat is something that we all understand and can be as simple as putting on a smile and a positive disposition.  Take a sincere interest in colleagues as an act of friendship.  Keep confidences.  Friends don’t gossip.

Be Courteous   Show respect for others by listening attentively when they speak and keep people informed when plans change.  Never embarrass a co-worker and always respect their personal needs.

Be Kind   Opportunities for acts of kindness exist with every interaction that you have with another person.  Give sincere compliments, thank others promptly as appropriate and do small things for the team.  As unremarkable as it may seem, making a new pot of coffee may be appreciated as an act of kindness.

Be Obedient   Policies and procedures exist in the workplace for a reason and they set the boundaries for expected behavior.  Follow the rules and guidelines, and never intentionally put your supervisor in a position where she/he must defend you or explain your behavior.

Be Cheerful   Happy, pleasant workers elevate the mood of an entire team.  A smile and a friendly greeting is contagious and prompts others to reply in kind. An upbeat attitude is energizing for both you and those around you.

Be Thrifty   Overhead expenses exist with any job and the thrifty employee ensures that the department and the organization get value for the money.  Eliminate wasting both time and resources by giving a full day’s effort every day.  Never take-home supplies from the workplace.

Be Brave    Demonstrating bravery in the workplace is not a matter of placing yourself in the path of physical harm.  Rather, brave workers have the courage of their convictions, they are forthright and will not compromise personal values.  Bravely stand up for what you know is right and never compromise your integrity.

Be Clean    Cleanliness is all encompassing and includes your body, mind and workplace.  Maintain your personal hygiene and the orderliness of your workspace.  Think or verbalize clean thoughts regarding colleagues, clients, your employer and the bad referee call during Sunday’s big game.

Be Reverent   A pervasive, deep feeling of respect arising from trust and loyalty unites a group of individuals into a cohesive team.  View your job as a special place and feel privileged to work with colleagues who are also following the scout law.

 

Behavior scientists and business gurus have saturated the blogs with tips for those seeking promotion at work; however, none have offered advice that will position you better than following the scout law.  At your next performance review, when you’re asked why you deserve a promotion, go through the 12 points of the scout law and give examples your behavior supporting each element.  Consciously living the law will make it who you are and engrain it into your personality. Start as a cub, live the law, and fly like an eagle.

 

Tom is a respected leader, speaker and clinical anesthetist.  Contact tom@procrna.com for a list of topics and availability to speak at your next meeting.

CRNA week 2019

 

AANA post

 

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

The AANA national headquarters in Park Ridge, Illinois is the nerve center of the organization and a hub for activity designed to enhance the practice of every CRNA and to bring credit to the profession.  The team of full time professionals at the home office work diligently to provide a broad spectrum of services for the members.

 

January 20-26, 2019 marks national nurse anesthesia week (CRNA week), a time to raise the flag in reflection and an opportunity for nurse anesthetists to celebrate and promote their profession.  In addition to giving recognition to CRNAs for the valuable service that they provide in the medical community, this special week also spotlights the importance of the professional organization in providing a foundation to support its members.

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is the professional organization representing over 50,000 CRNAs and SRNAs (students) the US.  This active, Chicago-based organization plays a vital part in uniting members, creating positive energy, establishing practice standards and ensuring the right of each qualified CRNA to work to the full extent of his/her capability.

Since it’s founding in 1931, the AANA has fulfilled a vital service to the members through its focus on uniting CRNAs, keeping them informed, and providing opportunities for each individual to experience a lifetime of personal growth.

  • Professional development. The professional practice division of the AANA is a repository of valuable information related to every aspect of the clinical practice of anesthesia.  The division publishes a professional practice manual and has sample policy/procedure suggestions for many of the common areas of practice.  In addition, the division sponsors workshops to address specific practice skills such as the use of ultrasound in the placement of nerve blocks.  Ewa Greenier, director of professional practice, welcomes queries from members and provides answers to common questions related to the practice of anesthesia.
  • Publications. An AANA journal is published and available both by mail and online to active members of the organization.  The magazine contains a wealth of evidence-based research including a journal course that provides continuing education credit.  The AANA Newsbulletin, is the printed platform for the AANA President and Board of Directors to update all of the members with timely information.
  • Annual Congress. Yielding still another opportunity for professional growth, the annual AANA congress provides the stage to personally hear from and talk with leaders in every area of practice, learning from the best.  Networking opportunities abound at the national meeting and post meeting follow-up extends the relationship throughout the year.
  • Professional support. The professional organization supports not only the clinical practice of the members, but the business aspect of practice through insurance and legal advice.  The AANA sponsors workshops designed to inform members about the business of anesthesia.
  • Research. An important aspect of being in a homogeneous consortium is the expectation that it will add to the body of knowledge related to their field of expertise.   The AANA Foundation plays a crucial role by sponsoring independent research related to the practice of anesthesia.  Foundation dollars have sponsored large-scale professional research to document the safety and cost effectiveness of CRNA practice and has also funded studies done by students.
  • Mentoring. Opportunities abound for experienced members to share their knowledge with neophytes via the AANA.  Adopting students at the Annual congress, sponsoring students at State meetings and connecting online are all opportunities for connecting and developing mentoring relationships.  Online webinars open the door for members at all levels of experience to learn from content experts related to every aspect of practice.
  • Jobs. Professional organizations are in a unique position to unite applicants with potential employers.  Job boards abound on State association web sites and meetings are fertile ground for those seeking employment to connect with the next boss.

 

Here’s what CRNAs are doing to celebrate CRNA week

The public relations department at the AANA and state CRNA associations work full time to promote the practice of nurse anesthesia and showcase the important talents that members provide to the patient population that they serve.   The PR department offers promotional material for CRNA week and offer suggestions to help local workgroups and state organizations promote themselves.   Below is a sample of projects designed to honor CRNAs during their special week.

Radio interview.   CRNAs from Mississippi and Alabama have been interviewed by local radio stations.  The on-air discussions highlighted the education and skills of CRNAs as well as the vital role that they play, especially in rural communities.

Video promotion.   The Michigan association of Nurse Anesthetists and the US Military are two organizations that have released videos to promote the profession year around.  Click on the names and view the videos.

Official proclamations by the Governor.   State associations from Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan and Mississippi have all received official proclamations signed by the Governors of their respective states.  By the time CRNA week arrives, the list will be much larger.

Legislator visit to the OR.   Members of the Texas association of Nurse Anesthetists arranged for local legislators to visit them at Northwest Hospital in Amarillo, TX. and learn about the important role CRNA play in rural healthcare.

Community service projects.  CRNAs tend to be generous with a desire to make their local communities a better place.  Community service projects ranging from local food kitchens and the Ronald McDonald house to high school career day, and wounded warier events are some of the activities done by CRNAs that build positive relationships with the community and give recognition to the profession.

Team building “extraclinical” activities.   During CRNA week, workgroups around the country gather for team building activities as well as happy hours, lounge celebrations, attendance at local entertainment events or participation in group walks.

These examples only scratch the surface of the projects done by nurse anesthetists to promote CRNA week.  Share your CRNA week activities with colleagues by using the comments box at the end of this article to describe your project.

CRNA week is a time for recognition of the valuable work done by nurse anesthetists.  In addition to receiving recognition for their work, it is also a time for CRNAs to reflect and appreciate the value of their professional community.  CRNA week puts nurse anesthetists in the spotlight and gives them a platform for connecting with their medical institution and their community.  The symbiotic relationship of each individual nurse anesthetist with the patient population and the professional organization is in focus annually during the third week of January – CRNA week.

Tom is a clinical anesthetist, author and speaker committed to promoting nurse anesthetists as leaders in the healthcare industry.

A walk in the park

GCSA

CRNA WEEK KICKOFF WALK

Family, Dogs and other CRNAs welcome

This event has been cancelled due to anticipated rain overnight Friday.  We will plan a different group activity in the spring.

walk post card

Where      McAllister Park, Turkey Roost Pavilion,

                Jones Maltsberge Entrance (enter at Money Tree street)

 

Address    13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd 78247

 

When       Saturday, January 19, 10:00 a.m. – noon

 

Walk at your own pace and meet at Turkey Roost Pavilion    after walk for Bottled water, fruit, granola bars. BYO lunch. Pavilion reserved ‘til noon.

 

Celebrate with the CRNAs and walk in the park with your friends

 

Please sign up by midnight Wed 1/16/19

Use the comment box below to sign up for the walk

Plan for success

planning post

By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate

Follow @procrnatom on twitter for leadership motivation.

“Without continual growth and progress, words such as improvement, achievement and success would have no meaning.”

~Benjamin Franklin

Keeping the workplace relevant involves updating goals, re-defining the workflow to provide better service to clients and staying ahead of competitors. Establishing new team goals that leverage new technology while reflecting social change, positions the organization to remain relevant in the foreseeable future.  A positive spinoff of new team goals is the energy and enthusiasm that is injected into the team as the status quo is shaken when the group challenged with a new task.  The time and effort spent assessing current priorities, anticipating future trends and establishing new goals will revitalize the team and paint them as the face of leadership in the organization.

Start with a comprehensive assessment.  Review the team goals that were established a year ago and note which were achieved, discarded or ongoing.  Goals that have been achieved deserve a high five and can be crossed off the list.  Items that slipped off the radar screen and were not achieved deserve to be re-assessed.  If they are no longer relevant, cross them off the list, however, if it’s a should do that lost momentum, move it back to the active list and create a plan to ensure completion.  Ongoing goals merit a progress report and tweaking of the plan to ensure that the goal is achieved.

Develop a written list.  Following your assessments, develop new goals for the upcoming year and put them in writing.  A written list will organize your thoughts and give you something concrete to publish for others to review.  Include all pertinent goals that remain from the prior year along with the modifications needed for successful achievement of the objective.  Next, anticipate the new priorities needed to align your team with the greater goal of the organization and add them to your forecast. Following completion, prioritize and notate the items on your written list.

Clarify your goals.  Teams suffer when a leader’s vision for the future is vague; people are most productive when they know exactly what is being requested of them, the resources that are available and the timeline for completion.  Goals should be written in language that is specific, measurable and attainable and each should include a timeline with milestones to mark the team’s progress.  Once the list has been presented to the team, each person should know exactly what is expected and their role in the plan.

A bonus for establishing and clarifying goals is the opportunity for mentoring.  During the progression of self-reflection, the review of old goals and establishing new ones, invite one or two of the up-and-comers on your team to participate in the activity.   Mentees benefit from being included in the discussion and learning the process of uniting a team with the greater goals of the organization.  In addition, you will benefit from the insight provided by subordinates who view the workplace from the grassroots level.

After the goals have been established and clarified, organize a team meeting to present the new agenda positively, proactively and energetically. As described in Leader Reader 1, Authentic Lessons in Leadership, your leadership attitude during the roll-out sets the tone for the group and your enthusiasm creates an expectation for success.  At the meeting, establish the importance for change, outline an overview of the plan, establish a timeline and identify key people to take charge of specific projects.  A congenial team meeting that has been well-planned creates an atmosphere of shared responsibility wherein each person wants to contribute to the team’s success.

“Always plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.”

~ Richard Cushing, Catholic priest

Staying ahead of the times in the workplace can be challenging so take advantage of the changes that occur naturally with the passage of time.  View social change as an invitation to renew and re-focus the priorities of your team.  Like cleaning the closet and discarding old items to make room for the new, make an honest assessment of workplace priorities and remove the goals that have been completed or that no longer apply. Then boldly, confidently, and proudly introduce your team to the new priorities for the year.  Your efforts will be rewarded as your team takes the lead and works with renewed energy to ensure that your clients and patients receive superlative service.

“Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in execution; this gives you a 1,000 percent return on energy!”

~Brian Tracy, author and motivational speaker

Tom is a noted author, speaker and team building coach.  

Leader Reader 1, Authentic lessons in leadership is a practical guide that is loaded with tips for enhancing your leadership skills.

Redefine normal

 

Fitness

By Liz Sanner Davis, certified personal trainer

 

A friend and I exchanged this text talk on January 1.  “After the fireworks…back to normal – normal food, normal exercise, normal normalcy.”  “Ha! Define ‘normal.’”

We laughed, of course, because, after all, what really is “normal food and exercise?”

Following all our joyful noise and fa-la-lollies, we agreed that perhaps we should redefine it.

Based on one’s intended lifestyle, normal simply isn’t the same for everyone.  It can’t be.  Your co-workers, John and Jill, have three children to consider, Emily and her spouse have hefty commutes, Cheryl has live-in elderly parents and Damont is the only unencumbered single male. But they have one thing in common. They work outside the home in the healthcare profession.  Their normal is defined around their jobs.

 

Make nutrient-dense food and regular exercise ‘who you are’

and not just ‘something you do.’

 

Results from research on the positive impact of exercise completed by multiple healthcare, business and fitness professionals are very convincing.  Harvard Business Review concluded several years ago that “incorporating regular exercise into your routine” improved concentration and prolonged mental stamina while lowering stress. A current impact-of-fitness study by Leeds Metropolitan University in England suggests that the level of focus and efficiency in the fit worker creates the extra time needed for going to the gym in the first place. Becker Hospital review names numerous hospitals in its list of 100 great places to work in healthcare based on their onsite fitness facilities.  In addition, hospital studies regarding the effect of unfit, unhealthy employees on the bottom line of their organization’s budget, support the concept that providing for employee fitness pays significant dividends for both employee and employer.  From the employee’s perspective, the professional reasons to get fit are many.

 

You will be sick or injured less often if you take care of yourself by exercising and eating a plant-based nutrient-dense diet. Although there is secondary gain when you are ill, there are personal risks for developing chronic conditions, risks to your coworkers who don’t want to get sick and further risks for patients who are already sick. People who take good care of their total wellness are able to work, they feel like working and their personal performance has greater potential for being optimal.

 

Your physical strength and endurance are greatly enhanced by being trim and fit.  In a fast-paced clinic where every second counts, the fit employee can bend, lift, carry, push and pull quickly and efficiently without causing patient or personal injury in the process.  Some applications for anesthesia jobs specifically state the requirement for an applicant to be able to safely lift and carry patients and equipment. If you have a sedentary healthcare job in which you rarely need to bend from the waist, more’s the pity, because without staying trim and fit, soon you won’t be able to.

 

Personal Appearance is more convincing and comforting to patients and coworkers when you look and feel rested, energetic and fit.  And don’t believe for a moment that in this world of social change and cultural acceptance, one’s appearance gets a pass.  It doesn’t.  Who can take you seriously if you’re a healthcare worker who is unhealthy by choice? It isn’t incumbent on the patient to suspend disbelief in the care rendered by an obese nurse or physician whose presentation reflects a preference for unhealthy self-care.  The patient needs the reassurance provided by a dedicated healthcare worker who has a healthy BMI to accompany their competence.  Both play a role in your profession.

 

Working, and working with you, will be pleasant.  Scrooge wasn’t just cheap, he was ornery, and ornery is neither inspiring nor fun.   A great job in a name-brand hospital that can boast glass breaking research and a to-die-for benefit package will not, all by itself, make you pleasant to be around.  It is true that a stellar work situation offers a lot to make you smile, but cap that off with the deep body glow you radiate after working out and eating a fresh peach before arriving at work, and everyone around you will want to be there, around you. Regular exercise and a diet that fuels your disposition bumps up stellar to superior.

 

You’re the face of the organization.  The status and stature of the organization within the greater community and beyond is confirmed by stats provided by patient satisfaction based on both the medical outcome and overall experience.  While carefully avoiding any mention of the staff’s physical attributes or deficits, the plethora of patient-satisfaction surveys always include questions regarding friendliness of staff, willingness of provider to listen, advice from the provider for staying healthy, amount of time spent with the patient and overall care.  Those answers are affected by the healthcare team’s individual and collective level of wellness, general disposition, physical ability to do the job with ease and by being fully engaged and consistently on the job; all of those positive behaviors and interactions are a direct result of the food, fitness and overall healthy habits that you practice. As well, though your benefits likely include sick days in one form or other, you’re not entitled to abuse yourself and, thereby, cost the organization.  The corporate budget suffers when employees are absent, chronically ill or if dissatisfied patients choose to get their care elsewhere. Your definition of normal food and normal exercise is rooted in your respect for yourself and for your organization.

 

What you have to do and the way you have to do it is incredibly simple. Whether you are willing to do it is another matter. ~ ~Peter Drucker

 

Some suggestions for how to get that deep-body glow at work

  1. Drink water during or between cases – 8-10 measured glasses a day and spread them out if you possibly can. Your body will adjust quickly to the new volume because exercise strengthens all muscles including those that control bladder urgency.  Coffee, however, doesn’t function like water and isn’t included in the count.
  2. Stretch during breaks. There are a dozen different ways and times to stretch at work; bend slowly to touch toes once between each patient; stand against the wall and shrug or do one or several arm circles overhead and meditate simultaneously; do a few simple squats, bent-knee leg lifts, side to side neck rotations; do slow isometric rows by squeezing scapulae only. Get even more active on longer breaks by jogging down one set of exit stairs and lunging back to the top. During lunch several sets can be done on stairs or down a quiet hallway.  Bonus tip:  Stretching can and should be done at the back of an airplane during a long flight.
  3. Use proper fitness techniques for bending lifting and carrying. Picture Sponge Bob with a four-cornered flexible core.  Support your movements using your entire trunk including squeezing abs, spine-in-line posture, retracted scaps/broad chest, and flexible pelvis.  Bending over by using the lower neck and locked knees is potentially an unplanned day off work and corporate budget buster.
  4. Bring nutrient-dense lunch and snacks to work and pack them from your own food stock. Low-fat, low-sugar, low-salt, low-carb, high fiber, vitamin and protein rich foods are qualifiers; tacos, fat-filled wraps, cheesey burgers and everything-but-the-refrigerator cookies are not. Repeat this mantra often:  Food is fuel, sugar is cruel.
  5. Cardio for at least 20 minutes to warm up for the work day. This is important.  Cardiovascular exercise strengthens your heart and breaks through the mental cobwebs to fire you up physically for the day.  Everyone has 24 hours to budget so trade out 30 minutes of yours in the  evening with 30 in the morning; slog down 1 cup of water and hop on the bike, the treadmill, a Peloton spin bike like the one advertised by the young, gorgeously toned couple on TV, or get outside in a safe neighborhood and knock off 20 min of fast-paced, sweaty heart-throbbing cardio before work. Don’t forget to stretch two minutes afterward.  You can still go to the gym for weights or kick-boxing class after work with Damont!

The same voice that says, “Give Up,” can also be retrained to say, “Keep going.”

~ Lisa Bargstadt, personal trainer

We all like to get things done quick-as-a-bunny, yesterday.  Your patient wants his broken femur to heal in time to ski in February while you may want to fit into that little black dress in time for a wedding next week.  And though fitness trainers may willingly sell you an expensive package of promises and an optimistic healthcare worker may give an injured skier some reason for hope, getting fit and staying that way will take time – your time in real time.  That’s just the truth.  In the meantime, if you’re consistent and dedicated, you can jumpstart the process to becoming a trim, fit healthy worker who elevates and validates the healthcare profession by redefining your normal.