A sprig (or two) for all
“And in accomplishing the well-being of others, I lift up my heart and rejoice. ”
Healthcare providers at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (San Jose, California) are redefining the concept of creating a safe and kind workplace where everyone is encouraged and inspired to thrive. In addition to saving lives, the team is redefining what it means to build a workplace where people feel they really belong, are valued, can act with purpose, and can turn to each other without reservation.
kind·nes
/ˈkīn(d)nəs/(noun): the quality of being friendly, concerned, warm, generous, and considerate.
Dubbed the Code Lavender program, the aim is to support team member emotional well-being. Colleagues are mindful of how they speak with other, how often they celebrate accomplishments, and proactively lend a hand are just a few examples.
This specially designed program is working because all team members are committed to a simple philosophy – everyone plays a role in spreading kindness and a more compassionate workplace environment is not just healthy, but inspiring.
Interestingly enough, this program was modeled after a separate initiative, developed by Vocera Communications (a clinical communication and workflow solutions company), to create more humanistic healthcare models. By dispatching a special alert to a healthcare team, the emotional and spiritual well-being of patients can be cared for.
As a next-generation healing solution, the “Code Lavender service is a valuable tool that can help ensure that individuals will not only be able to go on after being presented with a difficult case, diagnosis, or loss, but will also be capable of reacting in a fashion that will result in better care and in better healing. We all know our healthcare codes – Code Blue requires the most urgency in the restoration of a patient’s clinical condition. The Code Lavender® system is an integrative healing equivalent of a Code Blue. Code Lavender services consist of a rapid response team of specialists who are called upon when an individual patient or her family or an employee has reached her emotional limit,” says M. Bridget Duffy, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Vocera Communications.
Some powerful examples:
A patient in room 363 is about to go in for surgery and a team of care providers arrive. A nurse administers a pre-surgery prescription while a thoughtful team member offers a message of hope to give encouragement and comfort. “We’re with you. May you be guided with courage and bravery.”
A patient is diagnosed with terminal cancer and a compassionate care provider comes into the room and sits with them. “Take your time. You’re not alone.”
If we think about this “Code Lavender” concept, I believe we can all take part in driving its objective within our individual workplaces.
Ultimately, people expect their coworkers to be nice, courteous, thoughtful, and supportive.
Being kind takes effort and now more than ever, may we commit to prioritizing this attribute (with heart) as a core principle we all stand for.
A recent study put out by Sun Life shows that 86% of Canadians expect their employers to support their mental health; 70% reported that their workplace experience affects their mental health.
If we find ourselves practicing kindness, we’ll together build and sustain a workplace environment that focuses on taking care of each other. And there are many different ways to practice kindness – find what works well and go for it.
For me, kindness in the workplace is about listening to what’s not being said when I connect with a colleague and then calling that person to simply say that I’m there for them.
It’s also about pointing out something I thought a colleague did well with and then sharing the learning with my other peers.
Being kind is also about doing what I say and doing it with meaning – offering a hand even if it means I’ve tacked on an extra 30 minutes to my day. What’s an extra 30 minutes in the grand scheme of things? If it means a colleague is going home with lighter shoulders because we talked something through, well, get me a tea, a chair, and let’s chat it out.
The kindness program at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center is driving value. By focusing on intentional interactions, people are finding it easier to get through their day, are more willing to stay, are feeling confident and strong, and are enjoying what they do.
A caring and thoughtful work environment for the Santa Clara team is translating into high retention scores, increased job satisfaction, decreased turnover and most importantly, increased well-being among the team.
I’ve always maintained the position that well-being at work stems from how we choose to connect with each other. By deliberately nurturing an environment that says “You’re not alone, you’re safe, I’m here for you, you’ve got this”, possibilities for a healthier, more thriving way become endless.
The kindness being spread by the Santa Clara team stands out because it’s helping support soothed mental states.
The traditional meaning of the lavender flower is serenity, calmness, comfort, and healing. A more courteous, thoughtful, and wholehearted way of being exists within all of us; let’s offer what this wonderfully scented plant represents to each other by way of our language, tone, presence and style.
I know I’m up for some extra kindness in my day. And I’m pretty sure you would appreciate some too.
