As attendees gathered in Savannah yesterday for the launch of the inaugural Periop Leader Week conference, the emphasis was on building community among perioperative leaders.
Smiley Poswolsky, a workplace culture and belonging expert, kicked it all off with a keynote that was both personal and professional in tone and content, emphasizing that no matter how much technology evolves to create exciting new opportunities, the future of the workplace will always be human.
It was a purposeful way to start the event after Periop Leader Week Brand Director Matt Steinmetz and Content Director Joe Paone both took the stage at the Savannah Convention Center to tout the conference as a way for perioperative leaders to meet new people who can become long-lasting industry allies, and to share experiences, challenges and ideas with their peers.
“Periop Leader Week isn’t just about education,” said Mr. Paone. “It’s also about community and connection.”
One surgery center manager attending the keynote said she specifically came to learn more about leadership trends and how to better connect with peers offline. Her colleague said meeting in person has provided more opportunities to discuss issues that matter to her. She hopes to be able to take back innovative ideas to the hospital where she works.
For his part, Mr. Poswolsky has made a career out of building connections, first with Apple and Google, and later with a TED Talk. Wearing fresh Nikes to the stage, he said he first learned the importance of belonging when he was a teenager running cross country. It’s something he talks about in his book, The Workplace Belonging Toolkit.
And then there’s the healthcare connection. With a mom who worked in a VA hospice in Boston when he was growing up, he saw firsthand the value and impact that caring can have on patients, their families and hospital staff.
His overarching message about human connection seemed to really resonate with attendees who all made the effort to be in the room and to engage at a time when a lot of people are doing anything but.
According to Mr. Poswolsky, 70 percent of Americans are actually disengaged with their jobs, while one in two Americans admit they are lonely. He said that during a crisis of disconnect like this one, it’s up to leaders to “create a culture of belonging and connection.” It seems so simple, but it’s not necessarily the first thing someone thinks about when looking to boost morale or the bottom line.
Consider this: Lonely employees cost companies $154 billion each year because of missed work, lower productivity and higher turnover. In contrast, people who are connected are engaged in teamwork, and feel like they matter and are heard. A more engaged person is ultimately better able to handle typical workplace stressors like technology learning curves, burnout and economic uncertainty.
And then there are generation gaps. As Mr. Poswolsky pointed out, did you know that six different generations are either working or being treated simultaneously in healthcare today? What this means is that kids who are glued to apps that Baby Boomers haven’t heard of will ultimately help set the pace for how we interact and seek out information even before they themselves enter the workforce. If you consider that 75 percent of teens already have AI companions, these intergenerational conversations, while sometimes frustrating, can potentially tap into the best ideas and talent.
Not a single session or panel discussion I attended today didn’t weigh in at least briefly on generational trends in the workforce and AI specifically. AI may be the star of the show here, but Mr. Poswolsky said it’s because of AI and other virtual apps that “connecting with people will become increasingly more important.” Could AI actually make room for deeper human connections? He sure thinks so.
