I hear it in the healthcare sector all the time: "We must provide meaningful, quality care and empathy for our patients, while we deal with so much bureaucracy and employee challenges." It also explains why, in my survey earlier this year, four out of five managers requested information to increase and improve communication and collaboration between themselves and their staff and among the staff as a team.
Good managers know the success of a cohesive team trumps the strength of the individual every time, including the power of the leader. But how can a manager who is already working so hard just to stay afloat find the time to build a more collaborative culture within their team and with other departments in the healthcare organization?
Here are 7 simple ways to begin developing a more cohesive team that isn't afraid to build relationships with those outside their world to seek new and better ways to accomplish the highest priorities of the organization:
Create a clear and compelling reason to work together. People find all kinds of reasons not to work together when they are unclear about or indifferent to a goal.(Tweet this) What's the cause that can unite your team and also more strongly connect you to other teams? The Transitional Care Model originated out of agreement among all healthcare entities that more had to be done to provide better care for older Americans with chronic health conditions who had been recently released from the hospital.
Highlight a previous win with collaboration. Share the compelling reason that brought the groups together and how the process took place. If members of the teams that collaborated are available, have them share how it felt to work together to solve a complex problem more effectively.
Promote meetings between department or unit heads. When healthcare workers see their leaders meeting face to face to brainstorm and solve problems, it encourages them to do the same.
Make innovation a priority. If the bar is set high enough, people have no choice but to seek ideas from those outside their normal circles.
Bring the groups together and ask some tough questions. Whether it's the individuals on one team or multiple teams who depend on one another, have them answer questions like:
- What do we do that makes it difficult to do your job?
- If we made it easier to work together, what would that look like?
- What's the criteria by which you evaluate the quality of the work we provide?
Make building relationships an essential part of the collaborative process. Too often collaboration is seen simply as a way to solve a complex problem. Research has found that the most productive and innovative teams were led by people who were both task AND relationship oriented. When healthcare workers learn they share a common interest or struggle with some of the same issues outside of work, the other people involved in the collaborative process become real people.
Finally, model collaborative behavior-and make it visible. As you reach out to different groups and individuals to improve your ability to do your job, share your experiences in conversation or as appropriate in meetings. Let others know you sincerely believe in the value of collaboration and working together as a team.
What step could you take to build a more cohesive healthcare team?
With so much to do in healthcare, it can seem impossible to find the time to lift your heads from your work and engage in teamwork. Creating new solutions to old problems is not as difficult when each person knows how to responsibly do their part toward the common goal and appreciates the contributions offered by others to accomplish that goal.
It is my professional mission to connect individuals with the practical tools to do just that. Let's talk about how I can contribute to your next meeting or event and really move your team into the powerful place of collaboration.