Physicians are often asked to lead—but are rarely prepared for the role. Promotions can happen overnight, often with no formal training and little support.…
Getting to a culture of always is an elusive outcome for organizations. Achieving excellence with every process, behavior, and customer interaction—is hard. It separates great organizations…
How employees perceive things often depends on their leader. I often speak to organizations that are undergoing a merger or consolidation. (This is happening…
Like most other healthcare organizations, post acute staffing shortages have created real challenges. Abby Spence, who has been a nursing home administrator for the…
How does one replenish themselves and others? A common definition of the word replenish is “to make full again.” This is often used in terms of supplying what is lacking, used up, etc. I have heard the message that one should stay hydrated. To hydrate is to replenish oneself. That is physical replenishment, and it’s important…but mental and emotional replenishment are also important. Much of my current work is focused on helping organizations create cultures of replenishment.…
Managing burnout is a two-pronged effort for leaders: we need to care for our own mental health as well as that of our team members. In many cases, one perpetuates the other. Dr. Ben Knutson, a busy ER physician, does focus on work/life balance, play, and family time. But also, he finds that helping his team at the Mayo Clinic better manage burnout is incredibly replenishing for him as well. In this conversation with Quint…
I woke up recently in great spirits. I was spending time with a group, and they noticed my jovial demeanor. One person described it as childlike joy. Later on, another person shared that since they have begun meditating, they are doing better. It hit me: I had meditated every morning for the past week. Maybe this influenced why I had woken up in such a good mood. As he continued speaking, I realized that I…
As a leader, do I bring the needed enthusiasm to those I meet? Do I express optimism about the future? Lately, these are questions I’ve been thinking about a lot. With each of my books, columns, articles, podcasts, and presentations, I hold up the self-awareness mirror. The question I ask myself is: How well am I following what I recommend to others? Sharing best practices in leadership provides such an opportunity. It is normal for me to come…
Gossip is something I’ve encountered at various times in my life. I am on a journey of learning. When I share about work situations and community items, the fact that they’re based on actual experiences is helpful. It provides me with empathy and understanding. I know how hard being in a leadership role is. In studying recent employee engagement results and reading comments, it became clear there are signs of gossip. In researching materials on…
Organizations work very hard to create and market a great brand for consumers. Their goal is to make sure their products and services are distinguishable from the products and services of others. I’ve seen a brand described as a perception in the mind of the customer, and as a promise of what they will experience. That brand promise is vital. It attracts customers and gives them a reason (the “why”) to use the product or…
In this season of Thanksgiving, it occurred to me that one thing I’m deeply grateful for is the opportunity to give. Since well before the inception of Healthcare Plus Solutions Group (HPSG), my colleague, Quint Studer, and I have tried to demonstrate a closeness to the healthcare industry…and part of that closeness is illustrated by looking for opportunities to give back. One of the most tangible illustrations was the amount of time that Quint has…
What are you doing to develop your replacement? What is being done to build depth in your company? These are important questions for all leaders to consider. The subject of succession planning came up in a conversation with Will Dunaway, the chair of the board for the Center for Civic Engagement. Will is an attorney for the law firm Clark Partington. His office is in Pensacola, Florida. Will was one of several people from Clark…
How many times have you heard, or even said, phrases like the following? You must keep your personal and professional life separate. If someone gets complimented, they will get a big head. Too much praise may cause people to become complacent. It is important to balance positive and negative feedback. We may accept them as truths…but are they really? These are a few of the statements that came to mind as I listened to Tom Dahlborg present at EntreCon®,…
When it’s time to move forward, it’s better to act based on facts, not guesswork. In my experience, knowing the facts usually leads to better outcomes. When we have data on a situation, we are more likely to know what to do next. That’s not to say we won’t miss the mark at times—but actions based on facts are always better than actions based on assumptions. It’s always helpful for organizations to have good studies…