Woes and Wars at Work
When there is conflict and tension at work, do you fight, take flight or let it fester?
A Harvard Business Review survey on communication during conflicts says most people (28 percent) always speak up when they feel they have been misunderstood. Only 10 percent fester, saying they never ask colleagues to either stop or change behavior that bothers them. About a quarter of people rarely let the other person know if they’re upset. Another 26 percent say that when they disagree with someone, they often hint at it, rather than objecting outright. We are far from direct.
While the survey wasn’t healthcare specific, do these woes and wars bog down patient care? Of course. In healthcare, we know that communication effects teamwork, patient satisfaction, patient safety, patient management, compliance with treatment, level of anxiety, morale and job satisfaction and efficiency. Effective communication among staff encourages effective teamwork and promotes continuity and clarity within the patient care team. At its best, good communication encourages collaboration, fosters teamwork and helps prevent errors.
Bad communication cannot be a part of good healthcare. How can you improve communication in your world? Start today, don’t let it fester.
Mary joined TriMed Media in 2003. She was the founding editor and editorial director of Health Imaging, Cardiovascular Business, Molecular Imaging Insight and CMIO, now known as Clinical Innovation + Technology. Prior to TriMed, Mary was the editorial director of HealthTech Publishing Company, where she had worked since 1991. While there, she oversaw four magazines and related online media, and piloted the launch of two magazines and websites. Mary holds a master’s in journalism from Syracuse University. She lives in East Greenwich, R.I., and when not working, she is usually running around after her family, taking photos or cooking.