It is Monday morning at 9:30 am. The staff wraps up their current task and gathers together. Deadlines are always pressing, but the team never fails to get excited about the morning meeting.
Welcome to the Daily Huddle at Prizm Media.
Every day, the Prizm Media team gets together to tell each other their good news, what they are up to, and anything they are stuck on so that their colleagues can help them out. It is the most fun part of the day because it gives people a chance to quickly catch-up and enjoy a cup of coffee (and a mini brownie) with each other. When the 10 minutes are up, the team goes back to their work refreshed, rejuvenated, and smiling.
This everyday tradition of communication is one of the best ways to foster a great healthcare work environment. It is amazing to uncover who your peers are. It is easy to ask about their weekend and to learn the names of their friends and family members. It is possible to become friends and build a family-like team.
Once you speak to your peers, you will discover that they are wonderful, kind, interesting people. After all, they have been hired specifically to fit in at the office. Chances are, they have comparable hobbies, interests, and goals in life, particularly regarding healthcare. When you find these similarities, true friendships will soon follow.
An Overview of Open Communication in Healthcare
It is crucial to fully understand the concept of open communication to foster it in your office. It is not as simple as the definition a dictionary offers.
com·mu·ni·ca·tion (kəˌmyo͞onəˈkāSH(ə)n) = the deliberate activity of exchange of data or information to convey or receive meanings.
Open communication in healthcare is all about relationships and sharing. The process is one of the most powerful and inexpensive ways to foster an ideal corporate culture. In the health industry, this truth is especially accurate because, at the end of the day, we are all human. Regardless of your job title, we work within this vital space as equals. We are all serving the greater good together by transforming people’s health outcomes.
There are three innovative communication exercises that Prizm Media uses to foster healthy relationships with each other:
Daily Huddles
The Prizm Media Daily Huddles occur at the beginning of every work day. When the time comes, the QA, Logistics and Operations, Accounting, Administrative, and Marketing Departments gather together in a big circle.
The Daily Huddles always start with good news before moving on to daily responsibilities and tasks to maintain accountability. After, the team tells everyone about their challenges so they can seek out help from their colleagues, who are always willing to lend a hand.
Contributions are always encouraged, but the meetings are not mandatory. However, everyone always participates. Daily Huddles are a great way to banter with your peers, describe problems in an effective way, and never fail to bring a smile to people’s faces. There is no pressure and the meetings are unfailingly positive, making them highlights of people’s days.
Tech Scrums
The In-house Tech Department runs on a slightly different schedule than the rest of the office. That makes Tech Scrums occur later in the day but these meetings are still essential daily meetings for every member of the team.
Tech Scrums encourage creativity and innovation. Members of the team exchange ideas, encourage growth, and assist each other in maximizing their potential. The bright talent of the Tech Department and the popularity of the lively scrums ensure the ongoing development of Prizm Media’s cutting-edge proprietary technology.
Weekly Meetings and Catered Lunches
Once a week, the entire Prizm Media staff meets for a weekly catered lunch or potluck and office-wide meeting. Co-founders Zeeshan and Karina Hayat lead by distributing corporate news and accomplishments. After, the team digs into a healthy meal.
This weekly gathering has been indispensable in promoting a feeling of togetherness with the leadership team, supporting the executive “Open Door” policy, and forming a happy environment based on communication and partnership.
Notes on Appropriate Communication
Ethics and Integrity
But open communication in healthcare is not as simple as asking, “How is your workload?” Data security, HIPAA, client confidentiality, and more eliminate many common topics for workplace chit-chat. In the best companies, especially reputable lead generation firms like Prizm Media, compliance and ethics always come first. It is imperative to maintain integrity, even when fostering communication.
Suitable Topics
It is also important to be aware of sensitive areas of conversation that others may not wish to discuss. Religion, politics, and some aspects of your team’s personal life may not be welcome topics of discourse. Getting to know your colleagues should always respectful of their individual needs and privacy.