Lack of Engagement: That's Your BEST Effort?

Pivoting from our look at the multi-faceted issues caused by a serious lack of communication in the healthcare industry, today we’ll begin to explore the wide-spread lack of engagement many physicians and clinicians experience at various points throughout their career.

Frustrating for those experiencing it and just as frustrating for healthcare leaders, lack of engagement is a pervasive problem that rears its ugly head at all levels of healthcare. This, coupled with a lack of communication, often appears to leaders as if physicians are half-a**ing their work or merely “phoning it in” instead of applying their full effort and skill.

In many organizations, physician leaders struggle to get what they consider to be “best” effort from physicians on their teams and are often frustrated with physician performance, knowing that there’s untapped potential beneath the surface. This apparent lack of effort shows up as low productivity, lack of interest or involvement with new projects, lack of engagement and alignment with organizational values, and, ultimately, high rates of burnout. All of this (the low productivity, levels of involvement, and energy) contributes to the high rates of burnout.  

On the flip side, often physicians may be consciously (or subconsciously) withholding their “best” effort when they feel like cogs in a healthcare machine instead of partners in decision making. When opinions aren’t valued, expertise is glossed over, and leaders ignore first-hand experience as they implement policy changes, no wonder physicians don’t feel valued. Why should they give their best where it’s not appreciated?

Furthermore, often physicians are crippled and unable to give their best effort due to being overworked, under appreciated, and struggling daily against burnout and exhaustion. A physician unable to care for their own wellbeing and mental health is, like any other professional, unable to fulfill their potential at work.