This Fall, I had the invaluable opportunity to work on a project with our Clinic Director of Ruth Norwood to improve the teamwork at ESHC. Initially, the purpose of this project was to uncover strategies for incorporating teamwork into our speech team’s project planning and program development. As Ruth and I met and researched these topics, we quickly recognized that this project was bigger than we had imagined.
First, we discovered that we had to begin with the “big picture” before we could effectively and collaboratively implement the specific steps involved in project development. We learned from Simon Sinek that the most successful organizations are those that have a clear understanding of their purpose, or the “why,” while most organizations tend to focus on the tangible “hows” and “whats.” Ruth and I realized that teamwork must become a theme, not only in speech, but among audiology and office staff as well. Compelled to define our “why” and create a culture of teamwork, this month’s all-staff meeting was dedicated to discussing our vision, culture, and the principles of teamwork required in order to provide best patient care. Team participation was characterized by insightful observations, authentic reflections, and inspiring and innovative ideas.
ESHC will continue to work tirelessly and collaboratively toward our purpose. We will continue to focus on teamwork through future discussions and exercises focused on uncovering work preferences and team roles. After all, there’s no better time of year to reflect on what is important. And for ESHC , that is transforming lives through improved communication and empowering patients and their families.