Today, I'd like to share the latest in my series of articles about “Champions of Change,” which is based on a discussion I had with Suzi Collins, an experienced Lean healthcare supply chain leader.
As I wrote about in the first two articles in this series, successful and innovative organizations have “champions of change” at all levels of the organization. They do this to create, nurture, and sustain a culture of continuous improvement. These are important concepts in the healthcare materials or supply chain function (as well as other functions and other industries).
You can read my article at Becker's Hospital Review:
“Why a Better Hospital Supply Chain Starts with Better Relationships“
Or you can download a PDF from Cardinal Health — click here, then on “Insights from a healthcare professional”.
From the article:
“I first met Suzi at a Lean healthcare conference in 2011, and I could tell right away that she was a “Champion of Change.” She's enthusiastic about helping others improve their supply chain operations, and she brings deep expertise and sharp instincts to the table. I had a chance to catch up with Suzi recently, and she shared some lessons learned from her experience as a hospital supply chain leader and Lean consultant.”
What are some of the keys to relationships and change, according to Suzi? They include:
- Putting relationships first
- Going beyond what's broken
- Truly understanding the situation
- Making many small improvements
- Collaborating instead of telling
- Being respectful when telling is necessary
Read the article to get more detail and quotes from Suzi.
“Many small improvements” is the practice of Kaizen, of course. Many small improvements can lead to a big impact.
“Collaborating instead of telling” reminds me of the practice of “Motivational Interviewing,” as I have blogged about before.
Do you know other Champions of Change? Are you one? What traits would you add to Suzi's list?
Please share your stories on Twitter or LinkedIn with the hashtag #ChangeChampions. Or, you can post a comment below.
To learn more and for additional content, check out the Cardinal Health Medical Supply Chain Solution Center.
Disclaimer: This content is sponsored by Cardinal Health. Mark Graban received compensation from Cardinal Health for participating in this educational program.
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Check out my latest book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation:
