In this special Speaker Series, Becker's Healthcare caught up with Helen Figge, PharmD, adjunct professor of global healthcare management at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the chief communications and public relations officer of CareFully, a company she co-founded.
Ms. Figge will moderate two panels during the Becker's Hospital Review 4th Annual Health IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: "The Opioid Epidemic - Key Issues 2018" at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, and "Improving Patient and Family Satisfaction Through Revenue Cycle Process Improvements" at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20. Learn more about the event and register to attend in Chicago.
Question: Can you share your best advice for motivating your teams?
Dr. Helen Figge: [My] best advice for motivating teams is to listen to everyone's opinion before making a decision. Often times, those least likely to speak up have the best practical ideas yet might not have the confidence to share them. Also, never worry about the titles of those that you are soliciting opinions from to make solid decisions for the betterment of all. Titles are only one part of a person's efforts in their careers — it is often the work experiences of a person that weigh heavy in great decision-
making steps.
Q: Describe your biggest failure. What did you learn from it?
HF: My biggest failure was not speaking up despite knowing my thoughts were necessary to be heard and acted upon. The pressure to do nothing in a situation gives the chance for others to speak first and put a position out there that then puts you in a place to defend or refute a thought. I learned from that point on [that] speaking up regardless of personal or professional consequences is the most ethical and right thing to do for the betterment of all involved.
Q: What is the No. 1 thing you wish you knew before taking a leadership post
at your organization?
HF: I wish I understood the personalities a bit more to learn how [the individuals at my organization] think, [because] actions speak louder than words. I think you need to hear what is said and pay attention to what is done before acting upon any necessary next steps in [guiding]
leadership efforts for an organization.
In this special Speaker Series, Becker's Healthcare caught up Helen Figge, PharmD, adjunct professor of global healthcare management at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the chief communications and public relations officer of CareFully, a company she co-founded.
Ms. Figge will moderate two panels during the Becker's Hospital Review 4th Annual Health IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: "The Opioid Epidemic - Key Issues 2018" at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, and "Improving Patient and Family Satisfaction Through Revenue Cycle Process Improvements" at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20. Learn more about the event and register to attend in Chicago.
Question: Can you share your best advice for motivating your teams?
Dr. Helen Figge: [My] best advice for motivating teams is to listen to everyone's opinion before making a decision. Often times, those least likely to speak up have the best practical
ideas yet might not have the confidence to share them. Also, never worry about
the titles of those that you are soliciting opinions from to make solid decisions for
the betterment of all. Titles are only one part of a person's efforts in their careers
— it is often the work experiences of a person that weigh heavy in great decision-
making steps.
Q: Describe your biggest failure. What did you learn from it?
HF: My biggest failure was not speaking up despite knowing my thoughts were
necessary to be heard and acted upon. The pressure to do nothing in a situation
gives the chance for others to speak first and put a position out there that then
puts you in a place to defend or refute a thought. I learned from that point on [that]
speaking up regardless of personal or professional consequences is the most
ethical and right thing to do for the betterment of all involved.
Q: What is the No. 1 thing you wish you knew before taking a leadership post
at your organization?
HF: I wish I understood the personalities a bit more to learn how [the individuals at my organization] think, [because] actions speak louder than words. I think you need to hear what is said and pay attention to what is done before acting upon any necessary next steps in [guiding]
leadership efforts for an organization.