There’s a book I’d like to recommend to nursing supervisors and educators everywhere. It has nothing to do with health care or nursing specifically, but has everything to do with helping us inspire those around us. The book, Start with Why, emphasizes the importance of uncovering what makes you “tick”. Its author, Simon Sinek, encourages readers to reach past the “what” and “how” of their jobs and dig deeply for their “why”—the purpose, cause or belief that gets them out of bed every morning.
For example, here’s how I examined myself after reading the book:
WHAT I do: I run a company that sells continuing education for nursing assistants.
HOW I do it: Along with a team of writers, I create CNA inservices and sell them to health care organizations around the globe.
WHY I do what I do: Here’s where it got challenging. The process of mining my personality for my “why” took some time. Basically, here’s how it evolved…
- I create inservices for nursing assistants because I’m a nurse. Well, yes, being a nurse is a requisite, but I could have taken my nursing career in many different directions. So that’s not the answer.
- I create CNA inservices because I like to teach. Sure, that’s true. But that’s not exactly what makes me eager to come to the office every day. I had to start thinking beyond the obvious and look for my purpose, my true beliefs.
- So, I began looking around me, examining the company that I had created. Then it struck me. I had named my company In the Know. The website address I established is made up of the words knowing and more. My employees are all encouraged to continue learning…and even have library time during their workday when they can read up on any subject of interest to them. Together, we create learning materials. Everything pointed toward the same thing: knowledge.
- I believe that knowledge is power. Hmm…I felt like I was getting close! But thinking of knowledge as power paints a static picture. My “why” felt more dynamic than that.
- I believe that lifelong learning is essential to both personal and professional success. Ah ha! That’s more like it! Learning is an ongoing, fluid process. Learning brings people together—and when two people share what they know, they both come away with more than they had before. That’s my personal and professional “why” and is what inspires all of us at In the Know to do our very best!
As a nursing supervisor or educator, are you tapping into your “why” when it comes to inservicing your nursing assistants? For example:
WHAT you do: Present inservices to your CNAs.
HOW you do it: By passing out and discussing handouts at monthly one hour meetings.
WHY you do it: Because it’s required? That’s just the surface. To share your knowledge with your nursing assistants? Maybe, but author Simon Sinek would have you dig deeper. To join together with your aides to learn something new? That’s better. Because you believe that the more your CNAs know, the more they can achieve? Maybe…but only you can figure out your “why” and use it to inspire not only yourself but everyone around you.
If you don’t have time to read Simon’s book, at least take a quick peek at his blog. You’re sure to find inspiration in his words. And, have fun pondering your own personal and professional “why”!
