This morning I met with a few of our management team members. We have a Monday stand-up meeting (yes, we do stand-up as it keeps the meeting focused and short)! One of our Directors spoke to the challenge of balancing quality, service and financial performance. No doubt, this weighs on many of our minds on a regular basis. We have to work well together to achieve these shared goals. It certainly is not easy and it starts with us.
Last week, I spoke about the need to reflect and look ourselves in the mirror and I appreciated one of the responses. Especially the need to "hold up the mirror" for others (of course you have to allow colleagues to hold up the mirror to you...without getting defensive)!
Our Crirical Care Educator, Jennifer Ochs, RN,provided the following feedback:
I found your message last week very thought provoking. It has taken me a few days to decide how I wanted to convey my thoughts to you. In my years in healthcare, I have found that having introspective thoughts and questioning how I am doing as a staff member and as a leader has been very helpful to my personal and professional growth. I have read books and attended conferences and lit the flame of others to burn with passion. The one thing that I have found to be most beneficial to me personally and professionally though is having someone else hold up the mirror. It is hard to see ourselves as others see us. When another colleague or a leader holds up a miirror and says, "Take a good look, this is what I see and this is what I want you to work on.' is very powerful because it can be fifficult to swallow at first, but then you realize that this person cares enough to make you a better co-worker and person. I think the greatest part of Cape Coral Hospital is the people. We need to care for the people working here so they can care for the people that come here. If we can give them ways to grow and develop and care enough to have those difficult conversations to make them better, then we will certainly be on the road to excellence. I hope you have a great weekend.
Thank you Jennifer. Let's thank those who have cared enough to raise that mirror to our face!
Category: Scott's Blog
