‘Leadership sets the stage’ for high-functioning teams, positive work experience
ARLINGTON, Va. — Team building is critical, and a positive team experience can spark optimal clinical outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction and prevent financial losses, according to a speaker at GI Outlook.
“Over the course of the GO conference so far, you've seen and discussed multiple aspects of what a high-quality endoscopy unit should have: efficiency, safety, patient and staff experience,” Lukejohn W. Day, MD, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, told attendees. “But the things that hold the endoscopy unit together are the teams and leadership of the unit itself.”
According to Day, the key to developing a successful team is to better understand employees and what motivates them. He further drilled down the core elements of a high-functioning team, which include leadership, trust and respect, managed conflict, clear goals, diversity and communication.
Expanding on these core elements, Day noted five positive drivers of team experiences.
- Belonging: feeling a part of the team or organization.
- Purpose: understanding why one’s work matters.
- Achievement: having a sense of accomplishment after the work is done.
- Happiness: feeling pleasant around work.
- Vigor: having energy, enthusiasm and excitement at work.
“By understanding all these factors and trying to improve them, one creates a better team experience,” he said. “One question that remains is: Why does this matter, why is it important?”
According to Day, research has shown improved team dynamics correlated with lower turnover (24%) and absenteeism (41%), higher levels of productivity (17%) and profitability (21%), and fewer employee safety incidents (70%). Further, team experience drives patient experience — every one-point increase in employee engagement scores leads to a 0.5-point improvement in patient satisfaction scores.
Day reminded attendees that improvements in leadership and managerial style can lead to significant improvements elsewhere. “It is important that we know as leaders we set the tone for our organizations,” he said.
Day also shared results from a 2014 Harvard Business Review, which showed 54% of respondents said they did not feel that they were regularly respected by the leaders in their organization. Of those who said they did feel respected, 92% experienced greater focus and prioritization, 89% had higher job satisfaction and 55% were more engaged.
“Teams are a fundamental element of a health care organization,” Day concluded. “A positive team experience is crucial to ensure optimal clinical outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction scores and prevent organizational financial losses.”
He added, “Leadership sets the stage for high functioning teams and workplace practices that can sustain a positive team experience.”
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Day L. The value proposition in building team culture. Presented at: GI Outlook; Aug. 13-14, 2022; Arlington, Va.
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