COR has been involved in staff resiliency for many years. Healthcare in particular poses a host of issues for staff to work through and for leadership to attend to…and that is during the best of times. Blend in a little pandemic, limited workforce, role change, and generally terrified and exhausted employees…and that can be a recipe for disaster. During the COVID response over the last several months, we have been guiding our clients on how to ensure that these hardworking employees feel valued.
PREPARE THEM FOR CHANGE
“Hey Melissa! Great news-I know you were hired for one role…but now, during this pandemic chaos, you are being VOLUNTOLD to serve in a completely different role…ready, GO!” During times of stress and chaos, we tend to find our best and most reliable employees, those who rise to a challenge, and in-turn throw them into the deep end without a life preserver. Perhaps a crash course on how to swim and where the lifeguard is located is in order? Time is of the essence, but you would be surprised at what simply ASKING an employee to do, versus TELLING, and spending a few hours of training and preparation can do for your outcome!
CREATE A WORKPLACE CULTURE THAT MAKES UP FOR THE CHAOS
Temperature checks, staffing shortages, additional PPE, role changes…all are out of your control. COVID policies and procedures must be followed and staff have been asked to adapt to a whole new way of working. What doesn’t have to change is YOUR workplace culture. Each of your employees should feel safe at work, feel like they have a voice and most of all that they are being supported by you! Take a few minutes to understand what each of your staff are doing day-to-day and ask yourself what you can do to make that a little better!
SAY THANK YOU…OFTEN AND IN PERSON
A blanket email to staff saying how wonderful they are is a good idea. A monetary bonus for extra efforts is also a good idea. Add in a quick Employee of the Month highlight for your organization and you are on your way to feeling like you have shown your appreciation to staff. Is this enough? Have you asked? Take time to find out what staff would like in order to feel valued and appreciated. Nothing replaces a face-to-face, sit down, genuine “thank you for all you have done for this organization…we truly could not have stayed afloat if not for you and your hard work”. When supervisors and managers take the time to KNOW which employees are showing up every day….even though their co-workers are not…the gratitude is relayed.
LISTEN TO THEIR SUGGESTIONS
Did you hear the one about the manager who created an amazing plan of action without any input from frontline staff….if not, I’ll cut to the ending….it didn’t turn out well. As consultants, we are experts in process and strategy and we pride ourselves on guiding clients to a process that fits their organization. However, we NEVER do this without input from those who are the impacted the most. Listen to your staff who are carrying out this brilliant new plan. Do they see a better way of doing things? Allow your staff the opportunity to use their voice and then take action and let them know that improvements were made BECAUSE OF THEM!
HELP YOUR STAFF KEEP THEIR CUPS FULL
As a reminder healthcare staff, by nature, are focused on CARING for others…it is what they learned in school, what they live and breathe each day at work, and why they chose this career. We are asking these employees to continue to stretch and give and go above and beyond…every single day! They are pouring themselves into their work…even when they are running on empty. One of the most important things that you can do as a manager is to encourage your staff to take care of themselves…to keep their cups full so that they can pour from them. How do you do this? So glad you asked! Stay tuned as we interview our friends at Viewpoint Health about encouraging SELF-CARE!
