by Dean Prentice, DHA, MA, BSN, RN, NE-BC
There seems to be an epidemic going around and I have been exposed to more and more in the past few months. You see it at the national level, state level, local area, and probably in your organization. This epidemic, if left untreated, could destroy an organization, ruin a reputation, and impact the care and operations of your unit. What is this epidemic?
The inability to identify when you did something wrong, or perceived wrong, and then not apologizing.
Doesn’t this sound like a skill set most should have learned in kindergarten or early school years? Yet turn on the news or look at leaders in your organization and you can see where getting the upper hand and “looking strong” drives many people’s behaviors. And those people cannot identify their lack of awareness of the situation. To them, it is someone else’s problem. (story continmues below)
Become a Healer – We are Hiring – Norman Regional Medical Center
Look at the relations in your work area, or think about a conflict you have had with a coworker, subordinate, or boss. And I’m sure you have experienced the inability of someone to do the simple act of making an apology after a mistake. Or maybe, it was you?
We live in a world driven by success and that abhors failure. Add to that the culture which is so pervasive where my feelings drive my behavior. Where feeling I have been disrespected is more important than looking for a way to resolve the conflict and working professionally with another. The basic concept that we all make mistakes, yet we have to work together seems to be more than most can take. So, what happens if you become infected by this epidemic?
You lose. The organization loses. And more importantly, your patients and your co-workers lose. You can’t control what someone else does. We all know someone who will “never be wrong.” Let their inability to build a professional and collegial relationship determine your behavior in any situation. Is that hard? Absolutely. However, is it the right thing to do? Yes. You need to remember at the end of the day that you only control yourself.
When you have created a conflict, you need to apologize. Whether the conflict was unintentional or not. Your professional responsibility would be to help rectify and continue a relationship you need in your work environment. I watched this beautifully happen a few weeks ago when I observed a seasoned coworker apologize for a situation I truly believe she did not create. Brilliantly, she apologized for an offense she never intended and helped build a more collaborative relationship with the other individual.
Where are you on the self-awareness journey to say, it’s me? Have you been in a situation where you needed to apologize and didn’t? It’s not too late. Take the role of leader and accomplish the apology. We need to guard ourselves from becoming infected with the epidemic surrounding us. We have a sustainable treatment plan which is to be aware of the situation and to model grace, professionalism, and teamwork. Trust me, it will build your leadership for today, and set your reputation as a standout leader.
As appeared in The Oklahoma Nurse November 2023
