Comments on: How to Lead Change

By: Elizabeth Ann Maisel, RN, BSN, CPAN

Elizabeth Ann Maisel, RN, BSN, CPAN — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:16:05 +0000

Hi there,
From a nursing stand point, we have to cross-train and float all the time. Teachers and state workers complain about having manditory days off; but nurses have been low censused for decades. Those of us who are more flexable, work more often. I float between three units, do the ordering for one unit, and am the preceptor for most new staff. I also do all of the education for my main unit. I work in the PACU (recovery room), Day Surgery, or GI lab and our start time is also flexable each day, depending on the surgery schedule. I don’t find out the hours that I work until 5 pm the evening before. My start time can be anywhere from 5 am to 11:30 am. I’m not complaining, just explaining the realities of working in this day and age. If you want a good paying, full time job; you have to be willing to jump through some hoops. These days employers are not going to kiss your keister when you deign to show up, there are 400 other people who would kill for your one position. If you want to stay employed long term, you have to be willing to work at it. I have worked at my hospital since 1992, and save 14% of my income in my retirement account. I have 5 more years until my kids are out of college, then my husband and I will be retiring to live on a catamaran- at age 47.
The crux of this is, sometimes people need motivation. You have to find out what their motivation is, for some of them an explanation that being more flexible guarantees their hours and makes them more valuable as an employee (i.e: less likely to get LC or laid off) may be all you need to help them see the value of cross-training. It takes time, education, and patience to change a cultures mind-set. It’s like getting a child to eat a new food, you have to show them the food 10 times, let them taste it 5, and then see if they will actually incorporate it into their diet- no guarantees! 🙂
Elizabeth Ann Maisel, RN, BSN, CPAN

By: Sharon Campbell

Sharon Campbell — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 04:35:40 +0000

My concern as an employee ordered to “cross-train” would be that the company is planning more layoffs and wants me to now not only do the three jobs I’m doing now, but more later. If that is the case, or is not the case, you need to see if this is an issue for your employees.

By: Eddy Hall

Eddy Hall — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:33:41 +0000

A basic principle of good decision-making in organizations is to seek input from those who will be most affected by the decision. Since those most affected do not believe this is a good decision, it seems likely that they feel they were not given a voice in the decision.

Could it be that the reason they object to the plan is because it really is a bad idea? Obviously, a good place to start is to ask each person who objects to the plan why he or she doesn’t think it is a good idea. But the question must be asked sincerely–not just to uncover objections so they can be overcome, but open to the possibility that there may be valid reasons that the plan, at least as presently conceived, is not a good plan. Can these people be invited to help with coming up with a better solution?

By: Haider Imam

Haider Imam — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:19:22 +0000

Valuable insights, Joseph, thank you for the detail in your reply.

To what extent is your organisation is backing you up in its measures, data and communications?
It’s easy to dismiss something you see as a fad or trivial, less easy to dismiss it if you know the company demands it. If you don’t know the problem from NOT changing and what that implies for you, why would you embrace change in the first place?

So, perhaps also might be worth influencing up the line, too?

By: Tweets that mention Crucial Skills » How to Lead Change -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Crucial Skills » How to Lead Change -- Topsy.com — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:13:07 +0000

[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Paula M. Hollinger, Crucial Skills. Crucial Skills said: Crucial Skills: How to Lead Change http://bit.ly/del5fW #newsletter […]