The Wisdom of Leaders: How to Cultivate Teams
Leaders embody 泫圖弝け of Utah 泫圖弝けs focus on patient-centered care, respect for people, and continued improvement. Recently, Jessica Rivera, Carissa Christensen, Sue Childress, and Tracy Farley described their efforts to deliver a better health care experience for patients by taking care of their teams. In advance of individual articles from each leader, below are four big takeaways that can be put into action today.
By Jessica Rivera, Carissa Christensen, Sue Childress and Tracy Farley | 2 minutes
1. WALK THE WALK TO BUILD TRUST WITH YOUR STAFF
Jess Rivera, Manager, Community Clinics Environmental 泫圖弝け
Managing 36 Environmental 泫圖弝け technicians spread across multiple U of U 泫圖弝け Community Clinics locations isnt easy. Thats why manager Jess Rivera has committed herself to earning the respect and trust of her staff. When I transitioned into a managerial role, I still put on a uniform with my team to do the dirty work, Rivera says. Sometimes I worked the night shift; sometimes I worked the day shift; sometimes I showed up on weekends. Working side by side, our conversations are more genuine; they get a sense of who I am, and I get to show them how to put performance standards into action. You have to keep walking that walk to build upon that trust."
Sometimes I worked the night shift; sometimes I worked the day shift; sometimes I showed up on weekends. Working side by side, our conversations are more genuine; they get a sense of who I am, and I get to show them how to put performance standards into action. You have to keep walking that walk to build upon that trust."
2. DEFINE YOUR VISION TO THE TEAM
Carissa Christensen, RD, Nutrition Care 泫圖弝け
Christensen had to figure out how to motivate an entire system to work on a goal everyone could agree was important: reducing obesity. Key to the projects success was communicating the benefit to patients. Its not fair to ask your staff to put forth effort unless it can benefit patients, Christensen says. Ive worked in other health systems where my team and I asked, Why are we headed in this direction? Ive spent my career fighting to get my programs noticed, but I have now learned that patience is truly a virtue, especially if you let your team know that they can contribute to the solution of making a difference on a huge problem."
Its not fair to ask your staff to put forth effort unless it can benefit patients.
THE VISION SUMMARY
How to Define Your Vision
Our systems best change agents tell us there are four key areas you need to address before starting any improvement effort: Benefit, Team, Patient, Measurement: Ask These Four Questions Before Starting Any Improvement.
3. CREATE A CULTURE OF CIVILITY
Sue Childress, RN, Director or Nursing, Huntsman Cancer Institute.
To fight compassion fatigue in Huntsman Cancer Institute nurses, Childress and her team heard from their staff that civil communications were critical. We had to create a workplace that had zero tolerance for incivility, Childress says. Employees need to know how to clearly communicate expectations and . Also, they need to know how to identify the difference between and constructive criticism.
We had to create a workplace that had zero tolerance for incivility.
4. FOCUS ON WHAT'S ESSENTIAL
Tracy Farley, RN, Nurse Manager at 泫圖弝け Neuropsychiatric Institute
Two seminal experiences inform Farleys work at UNI: one, his past work with mental health patients, and two, his brothers 10-year fight against heart failure, which recently culminated in open heart surgery at 泫圖弝け of Utah 泫圖弝け. When were receiving health care, were particularly critical, Farley says. But everything my brother has experienced has exceeded my expectations. Its reminded me I work with people who are compassionate and kind, who value every single individual. We often forget what is truly essential: making a human connection with patients and seeing them as they are. Its particularly difficult with patients experiencing altered states or those on medication. But when we see them as a person that makes a big difference.
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