What a great feeling! This slogan reminds me of others I mentioned before—where the outcome is assured, and you’re in great hands. Knowing that people are behind you, and they’re backing you up is a great feeling, but I also recognize that others on my team allow me to take the lead, when they don’t have to. (try our cpi training online or our crisis intervention certificate) We don’t have to fight each other for that spotlight. We don’t have to fight each other to be the first person to deal with this individual, and say the words that are going to solve the problem. I don’t have to fight you to be in first place, but I also want to know that you’re there to back me up if I need you. I want to know that, and know that if something goes wrong, if something goes bad, you’re going to be there. How do we do that? How do we develop this trust?
Recently, the CCG team was in a facility in a new state that we were just breaking into. It was actually our twenty-fifth state in the US, but the first client in that state. I can tell you that one of the most incredible things I saw while I was at that facility was their immediate staff response when a code (emergency) was called over the PA system. We were there doing a site visit, and we were sitting in on the actual units, with the staff and patients for the day to observe. We watched how the staff was doing overall, and how things were going in the facility before we actually went in and conducted our training a few weeks later. There were a few code’s called while we were there, and I can tell you that when coworkers called for help, everyone spared no expense to try and get, to where that crisis was occurring, as quickly as possible.
This facility is undergoing a great deal of difficulty and a lot of culture changes. They’re seeing staffing changes, budget difficulties, and all sorts of turmoil. Even amidst all the chaos, to witness this type of response from team members was amazing. They all worked hard to get to the scene of the crisis as soon as somebody called. Every one of them. There were people who probably should not have been running based on their level of fitness, yet there they were. Going as fast as they could to help the coworker in an emergency. How is that level of trust and cooperation built? I believe it comes first and foremost through consistency.
When I know, without a doubt, day after day, that when I call for help you’re going to show up, that helps to build comraderycamaraderie. It builds respect and trust. It encourages morale and improves confidence amongst the team and coworkers. On the other hand, I also want assurance that as your coworker, if I screw up and I make a mistake, just knowing that you’re there to back me up and support me my getting to get back on my feet is critical.
Work on that morale and team building through consistency and working together—it’s for the greater good.