Patrick's journey into the realm of caregiving was deeply influenced by his upbringing in Ireland, particularly by his father's career as a paramedic. This early exposure instilled in him the desire to make a difference in the lives of others and led him to enter the nursing profession. While Patrick's passion for nursing was undeniable, he felt compelled to broaden his impact by assuming leadership roles within healthcare. Through his experiences, Patrick sheds light on the complex dynamics of leading teams and managing operations, emphasizing the challenges and rewards of influencing positive change.
His insights underscore the importance of fostering psychological safety and creating environments where individuals feel empowered to be their authentic selves.
Here is what stays with us from this conversation:
Making Career Decisions:
Know when you need to branch out and how it will be of benefit to your development.
You will have a lot of questions. Learn to sit with the questions.
There is the fear of making a mistake, taking a wrong turn. Learn to back yourself. Keep persevering to give yourself the best opportunity to succeed.
Operations or Management?
A move from operations to management helps you grow.
You have an impact on people’s lives, their work day, their professional careers, and patient journeys.
Align your leadership practice to your values. Do not let external influences move you away from what’s true to you.
Self-awareness is Underrated:
When you work on yourself, you are working on your leadership.
Know when to seek help, such as counselling, to help make sense of what you are thinking and feeling.
If you are feeling overwhelmed and what might be the first stages of burnout, you need to listen and respect those feelings.
Sometimes caregivers will think they are at their best but they are actually at their worst.
Emotionally Intelligent Leaders help other Leaders Grow:
Your direct manager is one of the most important relationships you can have.
Emotionally intelligent leaders build trust, allow vulnerability and understand the value of learning from mistakes.
Vulnerability - A Hugely Powerful Tool:
The power of vulnerability, when used correctly, is game changing.
Vulnerability breaks down the barriers. It humanises you as a leader and as a person.
Leading in a Perfect Storm:
In healthcare today, the challenge is meeting the demands of every single day. There is not enough staff to deliver the care in an increasingly unwell population.
Healthcare leaders are asking the questions, ‘How do we maintain our workforce? How do we attract people into the workforce?
Leaders need to be aware that everybody is asking the question about work life balance. Work with the people and change models of care to make sure you can offer what will work for people. It’s an important conversation to have every single day.
Patrick’s key nuggets of advice for leaders:
1. Stay True to Yourself: Align your practice with your core values and ensure your decisions are fair and just.
2. Embrace Vulnerability: Share your experiences and mistakes to build trust and foster deeper connections with your team.
3. Listen to Your Body and Mind: Be aware of signs of burnout and stress. Take care of yourself to provide the best care for others.
4. Adapt and Be Flexible: In the changing landscape of healthcare, flexibility and creative problem-solving are crucial.
5. Foster Empathy and Support: Build strong, supportive relationships with your team and understand their challenges and motivations.
Connect with Patrick McCrohan
This is an original podcast by Flyntrok. We help organisations, communities, and individuals change and adapt to a new world. You will find Flyntrok on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.
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Hosted by Stephen Berkeley and Anne Boland
Produced by Rajeev Nedumaran of Inscape Media.
Music by Damian Smith of Bespoke Music.
Artwork by Ben Tibbin of Mozmo Creative and
Social Media Creations by Alana Rauert of Muse Communications.
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