Productivity increases the overall efficiency of an organization. From our research and experience coaching healthcare executives and physicians, we understand how effective leaders often make all the difference in teams that produce sustainably great results. This is particularly important as physicians assume leadership roles in teams. The same behaviors that make a great clinical leader (like being the captain of the ship) can also derail that same leader when he or she moves “from the operating room to the board room.”
That’s why a recent productivity article from Inc.com caught our attention. The author, Bob Gower, gleaned three insights from his experience in Silicon Valley that perfectly apply to the fast-paced world of healthcare provider teams:
Stop Compromising on Quality
“The moment you cut corners [on quality] is the moment you’ll never return to previous levels of quality. And you’ll never find the time to fix the bad stuff … instead you’ll just collect errors. This will eventually destroy the team’s ability to do anything of value. Every time they add something they break something else.”
Stop Consistently Working Long Hours
“To do our best work humans need time to recharge. Sure, there are times when we need to sprint towards a finish line, but that’s no way to run the whole race. Everyone eventually hits a point of diminishing returns when the most productive thing to do is take a break. Or as Jason Bourne put it: “rest is a weapon.”
Stop Working Frantically
“Our work is important, but most of us are not putting out actual fires. And even rescue workers know the value of slow and deliberate pacing to avoid errors. To create the most speed, you must create cultural norms and process that stabilize quality, hours and pace. Remind your team, and yourself, of [these commitments].”
The science of human behavior change clearly supports the principle of going slower to go faster. MEDI’s team of coaches combine their professional healthcare experience with the science and art of coaching to build strong, productive, and resilient teams.
