The word “bossy” obviously emerged from the word “boss”—to describe a person who issues order and directives: “do this,” “do that,” “faster,” “more,” “harder.”
People don’t generally like to work for bosses—they prefer to work with leaders and coaches. When consulting, I often find the focus is on tactics rather than strategies. Lists of tasks are great for bosses because they can check the boxes. They’re trying to get work done; to cross items off their to-do lists. And they’re often frustrated by the lack of engagement and motivation among their team members. They fail to engage the heart and connect the dots.
But how motivated are you by random directives and to-do’s? Probably not very.
Clarity and Strategy for the Win
Contrast that approach with organizations where the mission and vision are clear and everyone from the top down is visibly committed to the culture. In these organizations the focus is on strategies—not checking items off a list but working together strategically to achieve the objectives of the organization which are aligned around creating a positive patient experience.
The key to truly transforming employee engagement is in fostering a sense of shared purpose and aligning staff with the organization’s core values.
Transform Employee Engagement in Your Organization
Here’s how.
- Create a common vision and burning platform for change. Answer the question, “Where is our culture now, and where do we want it to be?”
- Set expectations across the organization for specific standards of behavior.
- Align resources to support expectations and priorities. Don’t just say the patient experience is important. Devote necessary resources. (This is an important connection to engagement.
- Establish systems to hold people accountable. In addition to performance reviews, expect ongoing employee rounding, coaching, and one-to-one discussions.
- Build service targets and behaviors into an evaluation system.
- Position organizational leaders as the “keepers of the vision.”
When employees understand and connect with the organization’s purpose they’re more likely to be engaged, committed, and resilient in the face of constant change and ongoing challenges. Make the mission real by sharing patient stories that illustrate the impact of your work, by creating opportunities for staff to contribute to the mission beyond their day-to-day tasks, by regularly reinforcing the connection between their individual actions and organizational value.
Beyond Checklists
True engagement isn’t about crossing tasks off a checklist. It’s not tactical. It’s strategic. By shifting from a checklist mentality to a purpose-driven approach, you can foster genuine, lasting engagement that benefits your organization, your employees, your patients—and your community.
About Baird Group
Since 1994, Baird Group has been on a mission to make healthcare better for patients and the people who serve them. A leading healthcare management consulting firm is who we are.
Founded by Kristin Baird, a nurse and pioneer in the patient experience, Baird Group is a leading healthcare management consulting firm uniquely qualified to help healthcare leaders understand their current culture and the resulting experience. We then can drive engagement solutions that achieve greater loyalty with patients, employees and providers.
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Tags: common vision, creating a shared vision, healthcare leadership, Leadership, organizational excellence, shared vision, sharing patient stories, visionary leadership
