COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS – Taking Action - The Fourth Practice – a. Taking Responsibility for Decisions

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS – Taking Action - The Fourth Practice – a. Taking Responsibility for Decisions

Yesterday we reviewed the practice of effective community health center Executive Directors to Write an Action Plan. Today, let’s take a look at the practice of Taking Responsibility for Decisions:

When Community Health Center Executive Directors translate plans into action, they need to pay attention to:

1. Decision-making,
2. Communication,
3. Opportunities (as opposed to problems), and
4. Meetings

Let’s review one at a time: Taking Responsibility for Decisions.

A Decision Is Not Made Until

A decision has not been made until people know:
1. The name of the person accountable for its execution;
2. The deadline;
3. The names of the people who will be affected by the decision, and have to know about, understand, and approve it – or at least not be strongly opposed to it;
4. The names of the people who have to be informed of the decision, even if they are not directly affected by it.

Many community health decisions run into trouble because these bases are not covered.

Review Decisions

It is just as important to review decisions periodically, at a time agreed to in advance. That way, a poor decision can be corrected before it does significant damage. These reviews cover the results, and the assumptions, underlying the decision.

Such a review is especially important for that most crucial of decisions: hiring or promoting people.

Review Hiring Decisions

Only one-third of promotions are successful, the others are either draws or failures. Effective Community Health Center Executive Directors know this, and check up within 3-6 months.

If that decision is not as effective as expected, they don’t blame the employee. They look at themselves, and admit their mistake. The people who fail at jobs may not be the ones to blame. The Peter Principle is merely an excuse for senior managers to avoid making adult decisions and taking adult responsibility.

Community Health Center Executive Directors owe it to their community health center and to their staff not to tolerate non-performing individuals – people have a right to competent management. It may not be that employee’s fault, but that employee must be removed or reassigned.

Next post: COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS – Taking Action - The Fourth Practice - b. Taking Responsibility for Communicating