Fostering a Culture of Excellence: 5 Ways to Build a Thriving Healthcare Team

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Fostering a Culture of Excellence: 5 Ways to Build a Thriving Healthcare Team

Long hours, staffing shortages, and the emotional toll of patient care are just a few of the burdens facing healthcare workers today. If not managed properly, these pressures can quickly lead to burnout, disgruntled employees, and alarmingly high turnover rates.

As leaders, fostering a positive workplace culture is not just desirable — it's essential for safeguarding staff well-being, boosting retention, and ensuring the highest quality of patient care. In this article, we’ll explore actionable strategies to build an organization where employees are engaged, motivated, and proud to work.

How to Foster a Culture of Excellence

As a healthcare leader, your success hinges on the team you build and the culture you create. Top-performing healthcare organizations are constantly seeking ways to enhance their workplace environment to attract and retain skilled professionals.

However, this effort goes far beyond temporary fixes such as free t-shirts, pizza parties, or new policies. It involves creating a balanced environment where every team member feels valued and motivated.

To paint a clearer picture on how to accomplish this feat, Heather Kuklinski, Administrative Director at Ortho Central, recently sat down with rater8 and shared some tips on how she cultivates a thriving workplace in Norman, Oklahoma.

1. There’s No “One-Size-Fits-All” Solution

“There’s no amount of pizza that you can buy, there’s no amount of any one thing you can do that meets everybody where they are, regardless of their level of satisfaction in their job,” Kuklinski explains. Employees have different needs and expectations, and understanding these differences is crucial to creating a supportive environment.

Kuklinski notes, “Taking the time to learn our employees and avoiding a cookie-cutter approach to employee satisfaction is where we have found our most success.” For example, consider implementing a personalized approach to employee recognition. Instead of a one-size-fits-all reward system, take the time to understand what motivates each team member individually. Some might appreciate public recognition in team meetings, while others might prefer a handwritten note.

2. Upbeat Leadership Sets the Tone

Leadership at Ortho Central believes in the motivational power of positive energy. They even share a collective sports analogy that resonates with their organization: “You go, we go. If the providers come in and they’re ready to go and they have a great attitude and they’re invested, then so will the people around them.”

This mindset is reflected throughout the organization, from the providers to the administrative staff, where maintaining a level head, even in challenging situations, is a priority. “No matter what happens, we all kind of act like it’s Disneyland, right?” Kuklinski says. “Happiest place on Earth.”

3. Embrace Energy-Giving Behaviors

Kuklinski also highlights the concept of “energy-giving behaviors,” which are actions that uplift and energize the team.

“Innately, people feel better when you are positive — you’re giving high fives, you’re giving the energy,” she says. “That’s who I want to be as a leader. I want to give energy; I don’t want to suck it.” By fostering an environment where positivity is encouraged and shared among team members, Ortho Central has been able to maintain a supportive and motivating workplace.

4. Address Toxicity Proactively

Conversely, this also means addressing toxicity head-on. Kuklinski acknowledges that hiring mistakes can happen, and when they do, it’s in everyone’s best interest to act quickly. “You cannot let one person suck the life out of the team,” she states. While letting someone go is never easy, it’s sometimes necessary to preserve the thriving environment the team has worked hard to create.

“If you do have somebody who is toxic, you’ve got to deal with it head-on,” Kuklinski advises. “Letting somebody go is hard. It's a tough decision. It should be hard.”

5. Understand and Adapt to Individual Needs

Finally, Kuklinski stresses the importance of meeting employees where they are, recognizing that not everyone has the same needs or desires when it comes to job satisfaction. “There are people who want a very relational approach to their job and their satisfaction, and there are others who don’t, and that’s okay!” By acknowledging and respecting these differences, Ortho Central has been able to create an environment where all employees can thrive in their own way.

Drive Continuous Improvements

To truly foster a thriving work environment, it’s essential to regularly gauge employee sentiment and identify areas for improvement. This not only shows your employees that you care about them, but that you and your leadership team are making a concerted effort to provide the best possible work environment.

Get to the Heart of Employee Satisfaction Through Surveys

Establish a regular cadence for engaging with your staff and conduct employee satisfaction surveys to gain a comprehensive view of your organizational climate. These pulse-check surveys will provide valuable insights into your current standing. To capture a full spectrum of feedback, consider combining quantitative metrics with open-ended questions that address key areas such as communication, teamwork, and job satisfaction.

Analyze the Data

Once you’ve gathered the data, sift through the responses to pinpoint your organization's strengths and problem areas. Celebrate what’s working well, but also tackle recurring issues head-on — whether it's gaps in recognition, poor work-life balance, or team-specific issues.

Involve Staff in the Evaluation Process

Don’t be afraid to get your team in on the action! Involve employees from all levels and departments in the assessment process. Work together to create focus groups or committees to gather diverse viewpoints and practical suggestions based on their firsthand experiences. These “boots on the ground” insights are invaluable for driving meaningful change.

Putting It All Together

The long-term benefits of a positive workplace culture are significant. Engaged and satisfied employees deliver higher-quality care, experience lower patient mortality rates, and are more willing to stay at an organization where they feel appreciated and understood.

“It's not perfect and we all have bad days,” Kuklinski acknowledges, “but for the most part, we have a lot of people sharing positive, supportive energy with one another. And when we can maintain that energy, when we can live in that world, everybody's happier. And that's where employee satisfaction is.”

rater8 would like to extend special thanks to Heather Kuklinski, Administrative Director at Ortho Central, for providing valuable insights into Ortho Central’s dedication to going above and beyond for their employees.