Defining Teamwork
Everyone says they value teamwork, but too often, rewards and recognition focus too much on celebrating the individual. In many cases, it is not even clear what different organizations mean when they say they value teamwork.
Seeing Some Opportunities for Good In the Bad (COVID-19)
Of course, these are hard times, but recently I have been encouraged by stories from the health system of ingenuity, bravery, and solidarity as we respond to COVID-19. This includes accounts of repurposing sections of hospitals, changing how supplies are managed, implementing telemedicine, implementing new sterilization techniques, and modifying staff roles. As the saying goes, “necessity is the mother of all invention”, and the current crisis is demonstrating how a difficult situation can push us to adapt.
Coronavirus and the Well-being of the Physician Community
Today, I was talking to a colleague of mine, Sue Kiernan. She is an executive coach who is thinking about what she can do at this time of crisis for the health system. She recognizes the pressures clinicians are normally under, and she sees how the current situation can contribute to even more stress. We talked about the concept of volunteering “In the Moment Coaching.” This is coaching for physicians and other healthcare professionals who think they might benefit from a 30-minute conversation with a professional coach. One short phone call is not going to change the world, but at the very least, the call provides a brief opportunity to focus clinicians on their well-being rather than just on the problems they are seeing and dealing with all day. There is no long-term contract and no fee for these coaching discussions. She envisions this as her way of contributing.
Be careful about asking a question when you have a statement to make
So many of us work in complex political environments where we do not want to offend anyone or overstep our authority. When we disagree with someone, it can feel presumptuous to tell someone he or she is wrong. This is particularly true if the person is in a position of greater authority. Are we really sure they are wrong? Perhaps, does the other person know something we don’t?
Shitty First Drafts
We all know how to write by first creating an outline and then filling in the remaining details later. However, a few years ago, I took a writing class and was introduced to the essay “Shitty First Drafts”, by Anne Lamotte. Ann Lamotte is a professional novelist and non-fiction author, and “Shitty First Drafts” is
When we are angry, our decisions are made without the support of the most intelligent version of ourselves
At times, we all get angry. As you calmly read this, I am sure you are more than capable of contemplating negative ramifications that can come from using your anger to get what you want. Even if you don’t break a standard of etiquette to which you will be held accountable, there can be both long
“I am doing everything they ask of me, but for some reason, they still do not see me as a leader”
When a client recently said this to me, it was hard for me not to think about the implied contradiction in this sentence. Someone who does everything that is asked is following (not leading).
Recognize the need to hyper-focus your efforts around those key moments that determine your success
Recently, I was talking to a physician who has taken on a new role in an industry that sells to healthcare organizations. He commented that most of the time, it was not clear what his company wanted him to do. Clearly, they valued him when he presented to customers and prospects, but that was only a small percentage of his time.
When in an urgent crisis, remember you have time to think
I remember in medical training, I was taught to walk quickly rather than run to a code. The idea is that it is better to arrive in the right state of mind, even if it means you are a bit delayed. In management, the time frame for decisions is even longer…
“Priority” is the only single word that is an oxymoron by itself
As a Chief Information Officer, I was often approached by people and asked that I make something he or she wanted an organizational priority.