What do you do if your relationships with key stakeholders in healthcare management are strained?

Begin by taking a step back to objectively assess the situation. Identify the root causes of the strain in your relationships. Is it due to communication breakdowns, unmet expectations, conflicting priorities, or perhaps external pressures? Understanding the core issues will help you address them more effectively. This step may involve self-reflection, seeking feedback from others, and analyzing any patterns of issues that arise.

Communication and openness and willingness to learn and adapt are extremely pertinent in bringing about a change in improving the relationship

Initiate a conversation with the stakeholders involved. Approach these discussions with openness, humility, and the willingness to listen. Make it clear that your goal is to understand their perspectives and concerns. This process involves actively listening, acknowledging their points of view, and expressing your own thoughts and feelings without placing blame. Open dialogue can help rebuild trust and demonstrate your commitment to resolving the issues.

Uma das principais causas das coisas não darem certo, é a falta de objetivos claros para todos os envolvidos. "Set clear expectations", ou seja, definir claramente o que é esperado de cada parte envolvida, é fundamental para um bom resultado final e evitar tensões desnecessárias.

Together with your stakeholders, establish clear and mutually agreeable objectives for improving the relationship and resolving any underlying issues. These objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Setting objectives not only provides a clear path forward but also ensures that both parties are aligned on what success looks like.

Develop and implement strategies to meet the objectives you’ve set together. This may involve making changes to communication processes, reallocating resources, adjusting expectations, or implementing new policies or procedures. Effective implementation requires continuous communication, flexibility, and the willingness to make adjustments as needed.

Regularly review the progress made towards your objectives. This evaluation should involve both parties and be based on the metrics or criteria you established together. Be open to feedback during these reviews and willing to make further adjustments. Evaluating progress not only helps keep the efforts on track but also reinforces the commitment to improving the relationship.

Focus on maintaining and strengthening the relationships over the long term. This involves ongoing communication, regular check-ins, and continued efforts to align on goals and expectations. Recognize and celebrate achievements and progress made in improving the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships with stakeholders is an ongoing process that requires attention and effort.