Whether you are a senior executive, middle manager or frontline staff member, healthcare seems to get more stressful and complicated every day. Endless regulations, increasing financial challenges, pressures to improve quality and safety. And now, recovery from the pandemic has created a healthcare staffing crisis in many organizations.
Because of this, how to increase employee engagement is at the top of most healthcare organizations’ priority list. But as the issues become increasingly complex, the communication frontline healthcare professionals need most from managers arguably becomes more straightforward, focused and – perhaps counter intuitively – basic as times get more complicated.
Think about frontline employees’ most fundamental concerns:
- Do you appreciate my work, especially in light of the stress I’m often under?
- Have you helped me understand important issues and our responses to them?
- Do you care about my feelings on subjects and circumstances that really matter to me?
Staff members understand that times are tough and that there are no easy answers. But in the face of increasing uncertainty, they need some anchor – some stable, trusted source – that helps them weather the storm of unpredictable problems and stress. Managers must be that source of stability. Healthcare organizations concerned about how to increase employee engagement know that strategies must run through their frontline leadership ranks.
First and foremost, healthcare employees seek leaders who will listen to their questions, concerns, and ideas. Then, having been heard, staff members want and need responses that are straightforward and that address their most basic concerns, fears, and desires. The following three fundamental messages are a great place to start.
Why
Every day we entrust the lives of patients to our staff. But often, we underestimate their ability to comprehend and appreciate the difficult organizational decisions we make to achieve operational, clinical, and financial success. It is easy to slip into the mindset that employees only want to know, “What’s in it for me?” But the most successful organizations with the most positive cultures move intentionally toward, “What’s in it for us?”
Clarifying important issues and decisions with organization-wide implications does not mean that we have to explain every move we make as managers. Explaining the rationale behind a new staffing plan that deals with increasing or declining volume is reasonable; explaining why a colleague worked an extra shift last week is not.
The most productive “why” messages are seldom delivered solely in email. Staff meetings or department huddles that promote open dialogue around relevant, meaningful issues offer staff the opportunity not only to understand, but also to react to important decisions.
Thank You
When offered sincerely and genuinely, appreciation for the important work done by frontline healthcare staff can never be expressed too often. Employees in the healthcare industry report that messages of appreciation are most meaningful when they are:
- immediate
- specific, and
- genuine.
Unfortunately, organizational goals to improve employee recognition often result in programs that include new rules, point systems and “prizes,” when what staff members want most are simple thank you’s for their efforts that are delivered sincerely and spontaneously.
Occasional planned events that recognize a team’s hard work are fine, but employees prefer that their contributions be individually acknowledged. “Thank you for working hard” is fine; “Thank you for staying late last shift to help us get through those new admissions” is much better.
Expressions of appreciation fail when employees sense that they are delivered out of obligation, not sincere feelings of gratitude. For example, written thank you notes are terrific – until staff perceive that their “personal” note simply represents another checkmark on their manager’s to-do list to meet a quota.
When thinking about messages of appreciation for healthcare employees, the advice for couples in sending flowers applies. In other words, would your spouse or significant other rather receive a dozen expensive roses on Valentine’s Day or a single rose unexpectedly just to say, “I love you”? One is delivered out of obligation; the other spontaneously from the heart.
I’m sorry
Unfortunately, not everything in life – especially in a hospital – goes exactly as we’d like. Tough, unpopular decisions are often a reality. Being indifferent regarding their impact on frontline staff does not have to be.
Historically, healthcare has shunned the use of a simple, sincere expressions of regret because it might suggest acceptance of blame. But acknowledging staffs’ inconvenience, discomfort, or even emotional pain can go a long way in strengthening a positive, constructive relationship with them.
Finally, communication that incorporates all three of the above messages often is most compelling. Using a real-life, real-time example from today’s tough environment illustrates this point:
“Given how hard everyone is working right now, it is ironic and unfortunate that we’re still struggling to fill all vacant positions. I’m sorry this tough hiring environment is stretching our dedicated staff. As we work hard to fill open positions and retain our loyal staff, thank you for everything you continue to do to help us meet the needs of our patients.”
Like the broadcast newsman reporting from the middle a raging hurricane, our healthcare employees need something strong and predictable to hang onto to weather today’s storm. Straightforward communication from managers that expresses appreciation, regret, and increases understanding is exactly the solid anchor they need to deliver the kind of safe, compassionate care our patients expect and deserve.
Contact us for a free consultation on how to improve your healthcare employee experience and prevent burnout.