HR

By Shanti Wilson

Cultural transformation is a term used often in organizations going through a big change. It’s become the norm in health care, to the point that “cultural transformation” occurs multiple times in every health care organization.

The consulting firm SmartMinds defines cultural transformation as “the dynamic process of irreversibly changing the outlook (culture) of an organization; and correspondingly its policies, processes, and behaviors that result in a more effective mode of operation.” 

While most health care organizations do well updating policies and processes to support cultural transformation, they often struggle with encouraging corresponding staff behaviors to support it. That shouldn’t be surprising, considering how we’re physically hard-wired to resist change, even when it’s beneficial. The emotional control center of our brains, the amygdala, interprets “change” as a physical threat, and releases fear, fight or flight hormones to protect us from change. 

Within that core physical context, you will want to be mindful of the human dynamics that could positively or negatively affect your cultural transformation efforts. Organizations seeking successful changes to support strategic goals and cultural transformation need behaviors that align with their efforts. This means: 

1. Understand your internal and external stakeholders and their motivations
2. Develop an action plan to achieve your cultural transformation goals
3. Celebrate your positive efforts toward cultural transformation

By Andrea J. Fonte Weaver

Here’s what we know. By the age of six, many children have developed ageist attitudes. Not only do they often fear older adults, but our impressions about our own aging can affect our health outcomes and length of life. Yet, when positive messages are internalized about aging, life expectancy can be increased by 7.5 years. With this knowledge, it is imperative we create intentional opportunities to bring young people and older adults together. Organized, serious and inspiring intergenerational programs give us the chance to redefine aging and build bridges so there is mutual appreciation across all generations.

In just 7 years, Americans over the 65-years-old will outnumber youth age 13 and younger. And with this changing demographic, one of the consequences is that older people are experiencing social isolation. This is dangerous as the health impact of this has been compared to smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Isolation for older, even active adults, leads to both physical and cognitive decline, and ageism overall can produce negative physical, social, and economic consequences for all of us. Simultaneously, our pre-teens and teenagers are also experiencing record social isolation primarily due to overexposure to social media and so much time spent on devices. [Read more…] about Why Healthcare Workers Need Training for Intergenerational Engagement

Imprisonment is tough enough already but there is more for a former convict once they are out of prison. Their chances of landing any type of job are slim unless they seek it from a former convict. They already have a record and so it is quite hard to convince anyone that they have turned a new leaf.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Every year, over 600,000 Americans are released from prison for various offenses and even though they have served time, they have a hard time convincing employers to look beyond those damning records. Jean Cobbs, 52, who served an 11-year stint for attempted murder has been out if orison for 4 years now and his accumulated experience won’t get him a cleaning job. He says he has tried to express his remorse but all he gets from his potential employers are apologies.

Changes are coming

Even though several companies have pledged to help inmates get jobs but bailed at the last minute, a few for-profit and charitable organizations are picking up this mandate. The Fortune Society based in Harlem coaches former inmates on how to secure a job and turn their lives around. Cobbs and several others are already benefiting from this.

Other organizations overlooking one’s records include Greyston Bakery in Yonkers, New York and Cascade Engineering, a manufacturer based in Michigan. They monitor former inmates closely to ensure that they stay within the law and in so doing, help them make something out of themselves. [Read more…] about Implication of Imprisonment on Employment

The years roll by, and the question of the necessity of meetings still lingers. For in the past decades, meetings, corporate or otherwise, have gotten a bad rep, often the conclusion is that whatever was discussed could have been done so in an email. What then can you do as a member of a team to not perpetuate the cycle of unnecessary and perhaps long meetings especially if you’re a manager?

Have meetings if the email would otherwise be in booklet form

Let’s use the example of injury lawyers Vancouver-based that has chanced upon the opportunity of a merger with a firm in another city in Canada. It is likely that the managers will have a hard time condensing the implications in an email. Therefore, in any case, only hold meetings when there is a need to provide information that will affect all member of the company. It is especially important when it is a lengthy topic, sensitive, could be misconstrued or likely to raise plenty of questions.

Departmental meetings as are also crucial because they provide team members with information to govern their roles. Supervisors, however, ought to be sensitive in establishing whether a weekly meeting needs to take the place of that time is better spent undertaking other duties. [Read more…] about How to Know if You Need to Schedule a Meeting