The state of Indiana, and more specifically the city of Indianapolis, is frequently referred to as the “Crossroads of America” because of the major highways that intersect here. With that, however, we also have almost constant road construction. As a result, those who live here are never surprised to find some new detour as they travel.
Some of the detours happen due to road construction, which usually includes well-marked, highly recommended alternative routes. Those are often announced weeks in advance, allowing appropriate planning to assure a smooth adjustment in one’s routine. We are still able to get where we need to go, with a reasonably orderly process to follow. When it is all finished, the end result presents a great improvement from the way it was originally. Therefore, we soon forget about the inconveniences that were experienced in the interim.
Then there are the other kinds of detours, the ones that are not planned or scheduled or announced in advance. Those happen, for example, when there is a jackknifed truck blocking the two right lanes of the interstate, and multiple subsequent collisions blocking the left lanes behind it. I have often wondered about the root cause of those successive wrecks. Are they the result of people not seeing what was happening soon enough for defensive driving to be effective? Or were they actually caused by the erratic actions of some self-centered individual who believes he or she should be exempt from the inconvenience of waiting patiently for a clear path forward? I have my suspicions, based on general observations of human nature, but I will let you come to your own conclusion on that.
Depending on the specific geography of the area where one of those sudden road closures happens, you may or may not be able to avoid being stopped in traffic for hours. With the level of connectivity and communication that is available through today’s technology, you may quickly find an alternate route if you are alert and know what to look for. While still requiring some deviation from the original plan, an attitude of flexibility and the desire to be adaptable based on the changing situation may present some great experiences that you would have otherwise missed completely.
Look at the career path of someone in the Healthcare Technology profession in the same context as the idea of detours along a highway. There are some interesting similarities, if you actually stop to think about it. As one who serves in the role of a manager or director, you may have insight regarding the strategic objectives of your organization in a way that will allow time to adequately plan and communicate with your team when you see there will be a need to adjust your service management strategies. You may have time to change your department structure, alter hiring and training decisions, and keep your customers supported and informed through the transition to assure minimal disruption for patient care. As a technician in that same environment, you would have the opportunity to be involved in decisions that impact you. Perhaps you would be able to choose which type of new equipment you wanted to learn to support, or which new facility you would like to be based in. Everything is mapped out for balanced workloads, with clear expectations for the foreseeable future.
In the current health care environment, however, it is more likely that changes will come slamming toward you like a jackknifed truck, testing your ability to react and recover. The chain reactions within your organization may resemble some people slamming on the brakes to try to stop everything, while others will be making erratic changes in their own direction, and a few are looking to exit at the first opportunity. As the team leader in those situations, you would probably have all of the same initial emotional reactions and frantic thoughts as your employees. Hopefully, though, you have the experience to look for a new route that will be appropriate for the whole team instead of leaving them to find their own way through the chaos. I have seen examples of both responses, and it is possible for good things to come from either one.
If the person in the leadership role is the first one to make the erratic maneuvers or to exit without regard for others, the team is probably better off anyhow. Someone who is a real leader will have an opportunity to step up. In the cases where the leader actually chooses to stay and work around the obstacles to get everyone through safely, the outcomes are likely to be positive for all those who choose to hang on and ride it out. When technical resources decide to exit abruptly, it creates open spaces for others to accelerate their advancement, and also leaves points of entry for new people. In the short term, it is a challenge for everyone to work through the disruptions, survive the uncertainty and endure the delays. After having the chance to demonstrate their abilities and commitment in ways that that were not originally possible, though, most will end up in a better place. Some people will even find themselves headed to new destinations that were not previously accessible, or that they had never been aware of. The value that comes from the sense of unity among a team who has survived a serious disruption cannot be measured, and that team will not be matched easily by one who has not been tried and tested the same way.
Functioning effectively in the role of a Healthcare Technology professional is similar in many ways to traveling across this great country of ours. There are many “crossroads” with opportunities to take a new route by choice, and many detours that force plans to change without notice. One of the keys to success, in either scenario, is knowing how to look ahead with a sense of adventure and a desire to share the road with others who want to also reach their preferred destinations. The journey will definitely be more enjoyable if you choose to enjoy the mountain scenery and hike some new trails, even if you know you want to get to the beach eventually.