Clintcast

In many sporting events today, there is always a winner and a loser, never a tie. You either totally succeed or totally fail. In this episode, Clint discusses how this concept is not really appropriate in healthcare. In team dynamics, it is critical that the load of the effort come from the entire team, not one or two standouts. Each member must contribute to the overall effort. As such, it is then perfectly okay for one member to be scaled back in their efforts while another takes the lead. Together, they all cross the finish line as winners!

In football, you get 4 downs to advance the ball 10 yards to get a new first down. If after three downs, you are short of the mark, you have a choice of either trying to go for it (knowing you might not make it) or to punt, thus giving the ball back to the other team, but at least doing so at a disadvantage to them. This second choice is often a good option because it gives the team a chance to regroup, take a breather and re-attack the problem anew from a fresh perspective later. It is no different in healthcare. It is not a failure to temporarily take a moment of respite while still addressing the overall strategic goals.

There are a myriad of ways to capture great ideas - on paper, sticky notes, digital storage, audio recording, you name it. Everyone has their own preferred preference. The important aspect is that it gets captured. Acquisition, however, is not enough. We need mechanisms to share and act on these ideas, otherwise, they sit hollow and unfulfilled. Clint challenges listeners today to pay specific attention to being sure we are always ready to capture great ideas whenever they may come along, and more importantly, to be sure we can share and implement them too!

Have you seen this behavior before? A problem arises and someone just has to put in his/her two cents purely to state an obvious conclusion or to propose a solution which, while it may be simple and obvious, is not ultimately viable. Healthcare is a difficult enough profession already without having to deal with these non-solutions. Was it desperately needed are honest, well-explored possible solutions to choose a path from to hopefully affect positive outcomes. Some solutions may wind up actually being simple, others more complex. The important aspect is that they actually have serious thought, planning and research behind to so that appropriate action can be pursued. Do you know a master of the obvious?

Your opinion matters! That being said, how you get that opinion out so others can consider it can be a delicate matter. There are several key elements required to enable you to be able to put forth your thoughts on a subject in a manner that will determine whether you are successful in sharing those ideas or if you will be met by defensiveness or disregard. Check out Clint’s hints to bring forth what’s on your mind in an effective and powerful way!

In today’s episode, Clint converses with Paul Collins (founder and managing partner of Equiteq LLP, a UK based business advisory firm) regarding his background and expertise in building and improving healthcare service excellence, cost reduction and process improvement, both in the UK and abroad. Listen in!

Today, Clint wants us to take a moment to reflect on those moments that take your breath away, when healthcare professionals are able to go above and beyond to create events whereby we can all get a re-affirmation of why we are in the people business in the first place. These moments occur everyday in many places across the land and it is vital that we are able to take time now and then to absorb, reflect on and celebrate these little victories.

The concept of ‘normal’ is not a normal occurrence in the people business of healthcare. While there can be expectations of some normalcy in regards to things like standard routines/procedures/etc, when humans enter into the equation, it is instead highly helpful to be prepared for the abnormal occurrences which will inevitably happen sooner or later. While, obviously, all possible various events of abnormalities cannot be accurately predicted, we can however use past experiences and predictive knowledge to help guide us in ‘likely abnormalities’ and how to get past them. When a toilet paper supplier fails to deliver on time, for instance, what is a good backup plan to have in place? It is normal to plan for the unexpected!

It is a fundamental basis of social interaction - your word. Our daily dealings with others hinge on our abilities to gain and hold the trust associated with giving our word to others so they can be assured things will be addressed as promised. That being said, it is not without question that impediments occasionally arise that cause us to overcommit in things we promise, which is fine as long as we go the extra distance to re-close the loop with others to update them on the change in status so alterations can be made if needed. Learn about this key aspect to our daily careers and how to make sure you are true to your word!

At times in life, it is not uncommon to get ‘stuck in a rut’ where things may not necessarily be going bad, but progress is at a standstill nonetheless (often thought of as ‘in the groove’). As such, ruts can still cause great harm to an organization, if not directly, then indirectly through lost opportunities and unrealized potentials. What’s the best way to deal with ruts? Avoid them in the first place! If you still manage to get into one, then it is critical to know that; a) you’re in one b) how to get out. Check out Clint’s tips for dealing with these obstacles to positive change!