Strategy, skill and execution are important to achieve success in most veterinary hospitals and practices. However, the mental side of the challenge is too often overlooked in leading the practice team to ultimate goals and successes. There are things you can do to help your hospital team mentally prepare to reach and exceed expectations.
Source: Harvard Business Review, June 9, 2016.
We’ve long know that giving employees more of a say in setting goals and figuring out how the work should get done enhances their commitment to achieve. Research has consistently illustrated the benefits of empowering others – one study in particular found it to be the most effective way to increase the productivity of a team.
INSIGHTS: Focus on past successes and reposition any deficiencies as learning opportunities that provide one step closer to the next success.
I have a senior team member who is very proficient at what she is expected to do, but seems to sabotage anyone who tries to show proficiency or motivation to excel. I suspect they are intimidated by someone seeming more or equally capable than they are. I am trying to show that when our team members success or even surpass us, it is a positive reflection on us, and ultimately makes our lives easier. Any suggestions on how to do this more successfully?
Stacey,
In order to solve the problem we need to identify the real issue. At this point you only suspect the senior team member is intimidated by other’s success. To do that I would suggest you try the following:
1. meet with this team member privately and begin by complimenting them on their proficiency.
2. explain that you would like to see similar proficiency and success throughout the team.
3. ask this team member to help with that goal.
4. if they agree, then that team member will have taken ownership of assisting others to success and the intimidation factor is resolved.
5. if they decline, that would open the discussion to digging into the whys. Remember to keep this discussion impersonal by using impersonal pronouns (it, this, that, etc.) in place of “you” or “your”.
If you don’t believe this is a viable solution or have other questions, I would be happy to schedule a brief phone call with you to explore other options. My mobile is 404 630 7504.
Patrick Malone