5 Ways to Motivate Your Healthcare Team

For the leaders of healthcare organizations, the task of motivating their team of caregivers and department heads has always ranked as a top concern. During these ongoing COVID-19 times, however, this responsibility has taken on a greater sense of urgency.

Many factors have converged to make this an incredibly stressful time for healthcare workers.

• Working extra shifts or longer hours caring for residents and patients.
• Their concern for their wellbeing and that of their patients during the pandemic.
• The emotional toll of seeing people suffer and die.
• Inability to visit and hug loved ones.
• The loss of normalcy that has touched every aspect of life.

Organization leaders who recognize the need to step up their efforts in the motivation department, for both the management team and the caregiving team, will find the time and energy a good investment. Staff who feel “invested in” both personally and professionally by those in leadership will be at their best in these stressful times.

An engaged leadership unit will be able to personalize these strategies to fit their essential workers.

1. First and foremost, commit to the personal safety of your employees with a continually adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). Monitor all procedures that can impact the safety of patients and employees. Demonstrate zero-tolerance for cutting corners.

2. Recognize the need to be a bit more flexible with scheduling. Many folks find themselves contending with topsy-turvy schedules due to ever-changing school arrangements and learning scenarios, the need to care for loved ones, and the employment disruptions a spouse may be experiencing.

3. Food has a way of saying, “We appreciate you!” So, surprise your workforce with a sweet treat, maybe individually wrapped cookies on Mondays, or a boxed lunch each Friday. A one-time gesture expresses appreciation. An ongoing demonstration signifies you understand the wear-and-tear of these challenging times.

4. Take the time to notice and verbalize appreciation for specific situations. “Thank you for trading weekends with Mary.” Make it a priority to pass along praise from patients and their families. “Mrs. Robert’s family so appreciated the time you spent with her during her recovery.”

5. And last, but by no means least, ask your team what help they need and strive to be a resource for them. Take the time to interact with your staff. Engage them in conversation that goes beyond the perfunctory, “Hi, how are you?” Explore what’s on their mind. Ask how they really are, at this moment, and overall—exhausted, frustrated, overwhelmed, experiencing harmful levels of stress?
Invite individuals to meet with you when you can both sit down over a cup of coffee and talk. Plan to listen more than speak as you probe their concerns for patients and the facility. Seek their input on the organization’s strengths and weaknesses. Ask what would make their jobs easier, less stressful, more fulfilling. Glean insights from their perspective.

Recognize the pivotal role you play in motivating your staff to provide excellent care to the patients and residents your facility serves.