motivation during COVID 19 situation for health workers.

Motivation is the strength and direction of behavior and the factors that influence people to behave in certain ways. (Armstrong 2013.)

Motivation is the desire to act in service of a goal and in this pandemic situation, it is essential to keep staff motivated. The 21st century has already seen many severe epidemics like Ebola, SARS, MERS, H1N1, and most recently the infamous pandemic of COVID-19. All of them have challenged us in ways never thought of before and, as health workers, are the frontline fighters who are directly taking care of patients and fighting against the spread of the virus. Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) can cause mental stress, physical strains, and demoralization. In this instance, motivational support from leaders is required.

Staff motivation is a challenge for any organization, in any industry. But because of the high-stress nature and emotionally-charged events that doctors, nurses, EMTs, and others in the healthcare industry face every single day, motivational support along with interactive and proactive processes that focus on individuals and their environment is important.

So, what best practices should leadership follow to keep employees motivated during difficult conditions?

1.    Keep Calm:

Keeping employees productive and effective during stressful situations is challenging, but it’s up to leaders to maintain order and inspire confidence. Make sure employees in leadership roles are able to keep calm in high-stress environments.

 

2.    Stay Positive:

 It’s easy to let a bad situation get the best of you, but a positive leader can keep people from shutting down. According to Barbara Fredrickson, a research psychologist at the University of Michigan, positive emotions helps individuals and organizations thrive. They also broaden the way people think so they build their personal resources, such as connections with others, knowledge of their abilities, and physical health and strength. Committing to positive behavior helps employees build up their internal resources, which end up operating as reserves that help them cope and overcome the negative feelings stressful situations can bring on.

 

3.    Make Sure Employees Are Trained:

The best way to ensure that employees are prepared to deal with unexpected circumstances is to train them. Not only will it lead to better outcomes, but it will reduce stress since workers will feel equipped to face a difficult situation calmly.  Reinforce the training often so it’s not forgotten.

 

4.    Keep Lines of Communication Open:

 Effective communication is key in every organization, but when stressful events take place, open communication is essential to keeping a positive and supportive environment. Healthcare workers see more tragic things in one day than most do in a year. Encourage your employees to be open and honest about their everyday challenges and frustrations. Make it a point to touch base with everyone at least on a monthly basis to listen and provide support for some stress relief.  One study found that nurses who used effective interpersonal communication on a daily basis were able to support their own emotional and psychological development, reduce stress, and keep morale high among employees. An effective workplace communication strategy isn’t just good for business; it’s good for the overall health and wellbeing of your staff.

 

5.    Give Recognition:

 Healthcare workers have what can feel like a thankless job. They work long hours; they have to comfort fearful family members; and sometimes the outcome is negative despite their best efforts. It’s important to recognize and reward these workers for upholding your organization’s core values under times of duress.

Conclusions

To keep a hospital running during a pandemic, leaders must take measures to foster an organizational culture based on motivation in order to encourage the employees’ involvement and efficiency.  At an institutional level, it is important to respond to patient needs and also provide quality care. Leaders have the responsibility not only to promote education and enhance communication with their team but also to support their employees personally for better outcomes.

 

Reference

• Armstrong’s Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice,2014
• https://www.nursingnow.org/leadership-challenges-in-maintaining-staff-motivation-during-covid-19-crisis.
• https://www.workstride.com/insights/5-ways-to-keep-healthcare-employees-motivated-in-stressful-situations