Organizations still entrenched in the dated command and control leadership paradigm and “we work alone – rock star” mentality, struggle to compete against organizations that embrace a culture of collaboration. Peak performing organizations embrace collaboration, creating engaged employees in a culture where the work and goals are interdependent, and the leaders are self-aware, other-centered, and connected in highly effective relationships.
Modern health care has evolved to become consumer oriented, global, and information driven. In this environment, and in light of health care reforms affecting the industry in unpredictable ways, the expectations for performance are greater than ever before:
1. Patients are looking for clinical transparency from their healthcare providers.
2. Leaders, in their quest to sustain operations, are compelled to study and create strategies for alignments and partnerships with other institutions.
3. The demand for cost control is dominant and new cost-control models that utilize collaboration and connection must be forthcoming.
4. Employees want ethical, responsible leaders, a sentiment that represents a backlash against the many highly paid executives in control and command environments.
These expectations are just a few of many factors driving the imperative for collaboration as the most practical strategy and response to the current and future realities in health care and for achieving performance excellence. To be successful in this new reality, you must adopt collaboration as your key performance strategy.
The shortfall of leaders with a deep understanding of the link between collaborative behaviour and peak performance poses a huge opportunity for organizations of the future. The opportunity to learn, to understand, and to change is not a complex undertaking – it is a slow and steady process of continuous improvement of mindset and behaviour. The skill of Positive Presence and the use of the Positive Presence philosophy as a business process improvement strategy will, without a doubt, enable your organization to create the essential positive emotional energy to reach peak performance, sustain strong working relationships, and improve organizational wellness.
CORPORATE HARMONY is grateful to Dr. Michael E. Frisina for his contributions to this entry.
