"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R. Tolkien
1. We have never been here before.
You will find some amazing opinions, insights and predictions amidst all the clutter of experts, pundits and politicians. And we all have some great experience to help us navigate the chaos and joy in our daily lives. The reality is however that nobody has been through exactly what we are going through now; at the speed at which we are going through it.
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” - Jon Kabat-Zinn
2. Change is the natural state of events.
Think about it. If you resist change, you will forever remain the same; in the same place. Change is something you should expect and embrace; especially in health care and most certainly where you are right now.
"We're here to put a dent in the universe." - Steve Jobs
3. Agents for change lead frustrated lives.
On top of all the natural change, there is human-driven change. People who want to make a dent in the universe; innovators, mavericks, rule-breakers, visionaries. If your calling is to be one of these change agents, know that you will most certainly encounter opposition, hurdles and roadblocks along your journey. That frustration is simply the price of admission for changing the world and leaving a lasting, positive impact on those you serve.
"If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try." - Seth Godin
4. Real conversations take courage.
Most organizational problems can be traced to the conversations that aren’t happening. And while talkin’ ain’t doin’, more often than not, the fuse to meaningful change is sparked by someone’s choice to engage in a tough conversation. Be brave. Start a conversation that matters.
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney
5. We must continue to succeed at accomplishing more with less.
We truly live in challenging times and competition in this market is especially fierce. Expectations and costs increase almost every day while our available resources grow less and less. The ONLY way for us to succeed at doing more with less is for each and every one of us to simply get better.
6. We must get better at what we are asked to do; every day.
It does not matter who is doing the asking; physicians, clients, executives or fellow associates. It is important that you note that PERFECTION is not at the heart of the expectation here; EXCELLENCE is. We do many things good and we do a few things great. The big task however, is how do we collectively figure out how to perform with true excellence each and every time.
7. Great teams have great teammates.
Everybody wants to put their own unique gifts to work on a winning team that is doing something that truly matters. Unfortunately, some people go their entire careers and never get to be part of a truly great team. Many others resist coaching and mentoring from their leaders and colleagues. You have a choice here to be coachable. You also have a choice here to make and keep our team great by being a great teammate, working together and investing the Core Values into your thoughts, words and actions.
8. Revenue makes a lot of problems go away.
A great deal of attention in health care is given to medicine and technology. However, in many ways, revenue and profit ultimately determine if we are able to sustain and grow our health ministry for future generations. As part of the marketing team here, your daily work is part of attracting and retaining physicians, patients and their families. With the revenue they bring, we fuel this healing ministry that serves you and so many others.
9. Our time is short.
None of us really know how much time we have to be with the ones we love. Our professional lives are really no different. It is impossible for any of us to know when our next opportunity will come along or when the next lay-off will come. This makes how we choose to serve, the most important choice we make each day. Be somebody who chooses to serve others.
8 Choices You Need to Make Each Day.
(Refer to these to determine if you are in the right place professionally.)
1. Choose to use your heart.
"You will need your heart to do your job here. It is impossible to serve or build true, lasting relationships without it. We are all here to serve patients, families, physicians and other associates in fulfilling and sustaining the Mission of our health ministry. Period."
2. Choose to make a difference.
"Your daily acts of service truly make an impact and a difference. You may be the one person who truly makes a difference in a physician’s or patient’s day."
3. Choose to listen more than you talk.
"Most often, the best advocates and communicators are also the best listeners. In your role here, you will often be called upon to serve as the voice of the physician. To do that successfully, you must first hear their voice. Focus quietly as people tell their stories. Listen intently without bias and seek to understand them first."
4. Choose your words with great care.
"How you choose to communicate and serve each day reflects on us all as a team, but much more importantly, it reflects upon St.Vincent. You need to make this choice an emotionally intelligent, positive one; every day."
5. Choose to engage and be present.
"To do any of the things listed here, you also need to choose to show up every day; physically, mentally, on-time, engaged and prepared."
6. Choose to work hard and be responsive.
"It takes no talent to hustle. We work mostly with physicians and the healthcare professionals that serve them and their patients. You need to respond to these providers as if your job depends upon it; because it does."
7. Choose to build and innovate.
"Innovate. Create. Experiment. Solve problems. Try new things. And yes, even fail. As long as we are growing and moving forward together, we will all arrive in the right place. Our collective futures are always under construction and you’re the chief architect and builder."
8. Choose to share and teach.
"Tell your stories. Why? Because it is the best way to cross-pollinate and teach. Tout your successes. Share your outcomes; good or bad. And do so regularly and often. Don’t fight it; we are all natural storytellers. Telling and re-telling stories about the work we do is not bragging, redundant or repetitive. Each and every time you share a story, you help strengthen our community by connecting with others in a meaningful, authentic way."