Building a Team Culture One Employee at a Time
Today I was pleased to receive an award for 'Going the Extra Mile' from the Medical Director of Monash House Private Hospital, Dr Paul Verrills.
It was an unexpected reward for helping a nurse in need several years ago. He heard about how I had supported a nurse from overseas to find employment, offered emotional support and even had her stay at my home while she recovered from a challenging marriage break up. You can read the entire story here on Paul's blog.
As the Hospital Director my role is to hire and manage many of the staff in our organisation and I believe setting the right culture is paramount to having an environment where people can enjoy their work. It creates a friendly professional environment for our patients and is a place they can be proud of their contribution to the community.
To me culture is quite simple, it's how staff think, feel and act in the hospital. However, it is fluid and ever changing, difficult to measure so it requires a lot of work to maintain a positive culture once you have established it. Like peoples health, it requires constant vigilance.
How I personally reflect the culture we desire in my team is to have an open door policy that staff can feel heard and comfortable to express their concerns, issues and suggestions. We treat everyone the same because they are all important in the organisation. It comes from the top and if you embody the culture and values of the organisation, staff see and feel it. They also can reflect it in their daily roles.
Of course I was humbled to be recognised and I resisted posting about this reward, however I believe so strongly in giving back, that I want to take this award experience and make it a monthly part of our organisation. Therefore, I would like to start the initiative to announce that the October award for 'Going the Extra Mile' will go to Lori Ackerman!
Lori has been at the hospital from the start and always goes the extra mile in her work, so it is only fitting that she is the first recipient of this monthly award. Her work on a recent project was outstanding. Working outside her job role she significantly contributed to a real improvement in the surgical department securing instruments and loan sets which assisted with a new project. Well done Lori!
Now the hard decision is to choose between the Endota Day Spa or Bunnings voucher!
Regards MHPH Administration Team
PS if you go the extra mile in your career and are looking for a friendly and professional place to work, review our career website here.
