by Ted Eytan, on 12 Sep 2007 05:09 am
The Journey
Dependence on a process, not a person
This has come up a bunch of times this week, all with reaffirming outcomes.
The most pressing for me was in diagramming the work of myself and the team I serve with as I plan to go on sabbatical. This is the post I was going to write a few days ago and didn’t do until now…
So, I am going on sabbatical. As part of this, I am relocating to the City of Washington, DC, where I will do more work on patient empowerment and (hopefully) LEAN, with different health systems. How about this blog? I’ll talk about that at the bottom.
As I prepared for this, I needed to respond appropriately to the concern that the work I am supporting continue for the benefit of our members. So I diagrammed it out and presented it to my boss first, and then to the team.
As I put this together and presented it, it was nice to reflect on how much of our process is now standardized. Each physician has a 90 day workplan that they know how to prepare and assess. Our Clinical Information System is on a 90 day cycle that’s predictable. Each physician is involved in some form of community service and leadership that prepares them to do what I do. Whenever I have gone out of town, we’ve rotated physicians into my position intentionally, with the idea that they should make decisions - they should not wait for me to return.
When I presented an early draft to one of the physicians, he asked if putting this on paper made me appear more replaceable. My idea is that it does. I hope to be respected as a person who promotes the team’s functioning all the time. If the work slows or changes in a negative way when I leave, this is a negative reflection on me. Predictable process that people have practiced well and work within their comfort zones is great. It will allow me to come back and continue taking on other challenges, rather than fixing old ones. Same goes for the team.
When it was all done my boss said the thing to me that was both unexpected and the highest compliment. He said, “You’ve set your team up for success.” I asked the Team today if they said they are set up for success. They said that they were. And we all know they will have excellent leadership experiences, and lead well by serving others, in the months ahead. No question in my mind that LEAN helped me do this.
About this blog….Lee would like to continue it, and there’s still a story to tell, we think anyway (agree?). We’re going to propose that we do this bi-coastally, with me sharing experiences in my sabbatical work. I need to check with our Communications team about any concerns they have, and listen to those carefully. In the meantime, feel free to let us know your thoughts!
on 12 Sep 2007 at 5:45 am 1.Pete Abilla said …
Continue the story, regardless of location. The story is engaging, real, and in-the-dirt & sweat — what Lean is really about. Yes, please continue!
on 12 Sep 2007 at 7:02 pm 2.John Hunter said …
I hope you both continue, if possible. The posts are great reads.
on 13 Sep 2007 at 5:59 am 3.Jeff said …
I don’t post much, but I frequently read your story and have circulated many items to my colleagues.
Your work on this blog has helped me in my work (in manufacturing), and I hope you continue.
Keep up the good work!
on 14 Sep 2007 at 1:59 pm 4.Mark Graban said …
I also hope you can continue the blogging. I always find it insightful, honest, and helpful.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:53 am 5.Mike Keaton said …
Keep posting.
How unique to have a historical perspective, but also able to contribute in na almost “fresh eyes” capacity.