You're asked to speak to a healthcare organization about motivation. What do you say?

All healthcare organizations and all healthcare workers are motivated to do their best to care for patients as well as they possibly can. This is never in doubt. Where we get lost is in in how organizations best care for their workers, how workers in teams care for each other, and how we care for ourselves. These are the areas where we must be motivated to do more. Through self-care, looking after teammates, and feeling cared for by leadership - the organization will have healthier staff, improved clinical outcomes, and an ability for all to commit to a united purpose.

The key to motivation in healthcare lies in fostering a positive organizational culture. By prioritizing the well-being of staff and creating environments where they thrive, we can achieve happier, more connected employees. Investing in improved benefits, such as maternity leave for nursing staff, is just one step toward creating a workplace where individuals prosper. When the house is in order, we pave the way for trust, collaboration, and ultimately, better patient outcomes. A culture of care and support translates into heightened motivation, enhanced performance, and a stronger sense of connection among healthcare professionals.

Since I am a mental health motivational speaker, I would share the many stories of people and how they struggled and found their way out of the darkness. I would also share those touching stories of how healthcare workers have saved lives in unconventional ways by allowing someone to feel heard, by recognizing someone who is struggling. I would also share ways in which we can prevent ourselves and others from getting to crisis and preventing burnout which includes getting time back when work consumes you.

Motivation is the catalyst for positive action. Great health care leaders have always had a motivating influence on me to do difficult or challenging things of great importance. One of my most influential mentors taught me once that their greatest role as a leader was not to teach or show, but rather to provide their team member “the inspiration for perspiration”

I would recommend connecting to your purpose. Working in healthcare is not easy or for everyone. All of which is okay, at the same time those who are called also burn out or get bogged down and find it easy to forget or just lose sight of why they joined. Ground yourself in your why. Protect yourself with your why. Grow yourself for your why. This should be cyclical through your career. This cycle can lead your cause and innovate your motivation to move forward.

The key to motivating others in healthcare is to understand that what's most important to THEM is helping their patients feel seen, heard & supported. And then show them how to leverage their already built in intrinsic motivation to support their patients with the available resources of their healthcare team to create a positive, sincere & respectful outcome for their patients.

I agree. I would also add remember why you do what you do. Whether it’s because of your family, income, goals, and innate sense of purpose, because you love to help and serve others or simply because it’s what you went to college for. When you keep your why at the forefront of your mind, it makes work easier even in down and hard times. This is one of the ways for you to stay motivated. Also count your blessings not your problems, this will help you stay hopeful and prevent burnout.