A piece from the Harvard Business Review was recently shared with me titled “Bringing Out the Best in Your People”. Giving thought to the best “teachers” that have shaped my leadership style, I identified as a multiplier – a leader that builds collective, viral intelligence in teams. Of the multipliers, the challengers emerged, defined as people who stretch their thinking and behaviors beyond current practice. This brought on the idea of thinking outside the traditional framework of what we believe education to be and how we implement education within the healthcare setting.
Part of stretching our thinking is moving away from our inherent scientific decision making that involves preparing and analyzing prior to project implementation. Often, projects are bogged down trying to work out all the kinks to prevent any failures. However, the most successful projects are those that have seen teams run with an idea, see if it works and if it doesn’t – start again with a new idea. If we wait until circumstances are “perfect” – we miss the opportunities and excitement to get started.
Projects are dynamic – they change and develop. They are meant to be fluid as they adapt to changing practice and those they are meant to accommodate.
I was fortunate enough to hear Dr. Mike Evans speak on his innovative patient education strategies today. His ideas integrate teaching patients the “why” of behavior change within a virtual teaching platform. Part of his success is integrating the “viral” within his strategies. He was able to design patient teaching that was enticing and engaging to all audiences. Moreover, it provided a forum that was not limited by logistics but could be shared exponentially via social media to a global audience. I left his talk with my creativity gene turned on and a whole flood of ideas ensued.
The commitment of Sunnybrook to its education portfolio is a catalyst to moving the education platform forward full steam ahead. Similar thinkers are being connected among seemingly unrelated disciplines, ideas are being generated and the implementation of projects is being realized. There is a buzz of excitement that is contagious.
Take a look at Dr. Mike’s YouTube™ video and get energized with new ideas on moving your education agenda forward and reframing your thinking.
Please go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo
*Acknowledgements: Ms. Angela Turner and Ms. Krista Dawdy, key members of my research and education team – who contributed to the discussions that brought life to this blog submission.
Lisa Di Prospero, M.R.T.(T.), BSc., MSc.,
Manager, Research and Education, Radiation Therapy
Lecturer, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto
Associate Member, Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto
Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook
