The Keys To Brainstorming and Prioritizing Your People-Focused Improvement Projects: Honey, I Shrunk The Labordemic Challenge Week 1

Hey, Disrupters!

We're back for Day 3 of our "Honey, I Shrunk the Labordemic" challenge, and I couldn't be more excited to continue this journey with all of you. For those just joining us, welcome aboard! This challenge, hosted by the Clinic Doctor, is your ticket to navigating the challenging landscape of today's labor market with finesse and resilience.

This week, we're diving deep into the planning stage of our PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle, strategizing on how to tackle the labor challenges head-on. Yesterday, we explored the importance of understanding root causes, and today, we're taking it a step further with brainstorming and prioritizing our initiatives.

Now, let's talk about how to kickstart your brainstorming session.

My approach is all about making it easy, comfortable, and inclusive. Start by engaging your frontline staff—the unsung heroes of your organization. Ask them open-ended questions like:

• "What do you think we could do to fix this (insert root cause)?"
• "Do you have any ideas on how we could do better with (insert root cause)?"
• "What changes would you like to see in regards to (insert root cause)?"

Their insights are invaluable and can provide a fresh perspective on tackling labor-related challenges. Plus, involving them in the process fosters a sense of ownership and buy-in for the solutions we ultimately implement.

This works especially well when you're utilizing a decentralized team model though you can utilize it for either team model.

If you're facilitating a brainstorming meeting, I'd pair these questions with some sort of a mind map. During the meeting, be sure to be intentional about all voices being heard whether that be by calling on those who are less likely to speak up on their own or shortening the speaking time of those that tend to be more forthcoming with their thoughts. A diverse cohort of improvement ideas is what we're looking for from this meeting.

After gathering a treasure trove of ideas, it's time to prioritize.

My go-to method for prioritization is the Pugh-Matrix, a powerful tool for weighing improvement initiatives against the things that are important to you. Don't worry if you're unfamiliar— here's a pugh matrix that you can use including a youtube video to teach you more and guide you through how to fill it out which can be found on the second sheet.

Alternatively, you can use a simpler approach: evaluating each idea based on its potential impact and the effort required to implement it. Aim for initiatives that offer high impact with minimal effort—a win-win scenario!

As you sift through the ideas and plot them on the effort-impact matrix , keep your eyes on the prize: high impact, low effort. This strategic approach ensures that we're maximizing our resources and focusing our efforts where they'll make the most significant difference.

So, let's roll up our sleeves and get brainstorming! Together, we'll prioritize initiatives that pack a punch and propel us toward labor success. I suggest picking more than one improvement initiative to begin with and delegate the leadership of each to a team member who is passionate about it.

I can't wait to see what innovative solutions emerge from our collective brainstorming session. Tune in on Monday as we continue our journey toward conquering the labor challenges together.

Until then,

Dr. Britney Scott