The Need for Speed

Like most health care leaders, I spend my days on the move.  Some days, it’s more like a bob and weave. Other days, it’s full speed ahead. For a team dedicated to innovation and the transformation of the way we deliver world-class health care, the pace at which we are able to drive change, integrate technology and roll out new services is paramount to our success.

As my team and I keep charging forward, I’m often asked, “How do you accelerate your team’s productivity without compromising quality or diluting outcomes?” For me, quality is the base line. It is where you start and where you end. You either deliver quality or you don’t. If you consistently provide quality service at (or above) the level your constituents expect, amplifying your productivity will not damage your product. In fact, it can help you not only work faster, but smarter and better.

Here are a few tips on how you can turn up the volume on your productivity and that of your team, while continuing to deliver the best possible product:

Get to the point. Know what you are looking for before you walk in the door. Whether it’s meeting with your team or key stakeholders, decide on the specific deliverables you need from each person around the table prior to getting together. You should start these meetings with, “I’m looking to solve this problem, or get this idea off the ground. Here’s how you can help me accomplish this goal.” 

Don’t worry. This approach does not stifle the opinions or ideas of others or limit the contributions made around the table. In fact, it does just the opposite. By assigning your colleagues a specific task or making them responsible for certain information, you provide them with a platform to be a subject expert and make a valuable contribution. It also helps ensure that folks are on task and focused and that meetings stay on topic, last an appropriate amount of time and don’t drag on and on. I know we can all agree that is the worst!

Hand it off. Let others do what they do best and what you don’t have time to handle. Delegation is a critical and often underutilized skill. While there are assignments, projects or duties for which you, and only you, can be responsible, there are many others, I’m sure, that you can assign to a team member with the bandwidth and expertise to tackle them. Take inventory of your action items and prioritize accordingly. This will not only free up your time to make the biggest return on investment and impact, but will empower team members to step up and deliver.

Bring others along. Keep moving and help your team members pick up the pace. If you’re running at a level five and your team is moving at, say, a two, figure out ways to increase their speed. The organization will run at the pace you set and the culture of the organization will reflect your tempo. If you want faster, lead by example and make it a point to emphasize productivity and action. This will inspire others to catch up and keep up.

By moving faster (and smarter), you and your team will successfully accomplish all you set to do. You will be able to drive innovation and expand your scope of work, as you will be quicker to forecast trends and identify and respond to problems. So, don’t be afraid to pick up the pace. There’s so much good stuff ahead. The quicker you move, the sooner you’ll get there.