Healthcare: A Culture Goldmine
If you are a leader in healthcare, then you have absolutely no excuse for having a poor culture.
In healthcare, you have a built-in purpose to save lives
You have people driven to help others
You have customers who are filled with gratitude for your work
You have an educated workforce from medical assistants to radiology techs to PAs and MDs.
If you find yourself wondering why your workforce is disengaged, unproductive, turning over at a high rate, or in any way NOT KICKING BUTT, then I have found your culprit -- YOU.
Why do I say YOU?
All caps, c'mon, Mike. Is that fair?
Yes it's fair, editorial assistant. YOU are the problem. Whether you are the CEO, COO, VP of HR, or call center manager, YOU have control over
- Who you hire
- Who you fire
- How you train
- The goals you set
- How often you talk about the goals
- How you measure the goals
- When you have those serious one-to-one conversations about goals not being met
- How often you praise your team (hint - this is the secret sauce)
These are the things that create culture. And in healthcare, your culture should be robust, positive, and mission-driven.
Are there financial goals? Sure.
Does the patient come first? No.
The patient is our first goal but our staff is our first action.
First, you plan for your culture, you hire right, and you support your staff. All of this comes FIRST before the patient ever walks in the door. The staff comes FIRST.
In conclusion, you are responsible for your culture. And in healthcare, you have no excuse but to have a strong one. Get out there and kick butt.
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Mike Lyons is an HR professional and consultant to the healthcare industry. He can be found at TXHRGuy.com and on LinkedIn.