You’re likely familiar with top-down communication and bottom-up communication, but there’s another form of communication that you’re probably not as familiar with—lateral communication. Lateral communication is the communication that takes place in organizations between individuals or departments operating at the same ...
We talk often about the importance of organizational values and espoused culture matching employees’ reality. Saying you’re committed to supporting employees and providing a healthy work-life balance isn’t the same as actually demonstrating that those values are real. The same kind of disconnect can, ...
In our last blog post we took a look at skills gaps that are impacting industries including healthcare, making it difficult to fill key roles. Here we take a look at a seemingly contradictory trend in healthcare: layoffs. Becker’s recently reported ...
In the “old days” it was common wisdom that polite people didn’t pursue conversations about politics or religion with others. It just wasn’t done. But, as they say, that was then—and this is now. Today, political discussions in all sorts ...
You’re in the cafeteria when a political ad comes on the television, prompting a heated discussion among a group of employees on their lunch break. A patient asks you what you think about the upcoming election and Bozo ...
Last week we talked about the challenges healthcare leaders face in navigating change and bringing their organizations along with them on the change journey. We talked about the importance of tilling the soil to prepare employees for the change effort ...
I heard an incredible story last week about a father’s journey through his daughter’s childhood cancer. One thing the father said struck me to the core. He said, “Technology didn’t save my child’s life, communication did.” He went on to share his personal patient experience. His concerns were diminished and his inquiries were delayed until he ...
When I coach executive teams on culture transformation, one of the first things I do is a communication audit. A few of the areas I look at include: Channels used for communication (email, newsletter, talking points for huddles and rounding, ...
I recently visited Costa Rica where the native language is Spanish. Despite my high school Spanish classes and a few lessons in Babbel, I was rusty, to say the least. I got by on simple interactions like ordering food or ...
In an increasingly competitive healthcare landscape, customer service remains pivotal in defining a facility's success. Often, it's the little things that make all the difference – the seemingly insignificant gestures, the empathetic responses, and the willingness to listen and receive ...
