Are You above the line?
Paul Flynn FUniSA, MAICD, FFIA
Group CEO of The Hospital Research Foundation Group and Company Director
I was at a presentation in 2014 when Dr Richard Lea, who is an Anaesthetist, gave an interesting presentation about workplace behaviour.
The first thing that struck me was 'why someone who spends his time in an operating theatre would have a broad view of workplace behaviour'? When in fact the pressure and closeness within an operating theatre in what is often 'life at risk' moments for the patient really highlights peoples ability to work cohesively as a team.
Dr Lea spoke about above and below the line behaviour in the workplace and how, with improved focus, any workplace can improve the positive focus of colleagues and slowly eradicate negativity from the narrative within any group.
The focus on sensitizing the narrative within a workplace on positive group communication norms and to remove unacceptable content and tone is not easily done. In my workplace it is a dynamic activity where the use of the terms 'is that an above the line comment' or 'was that a below the line comment' have evolved into a humorous reminder amongst all team members that we reject negativity and value constructive dialogue.
Above the line dialogue encourages action, accountability, responsibility and openness. Below the line dialogue includes blame, excuses, denial and defensiveness.
It took sometime before the above the line vs below the line focus took hold within the internal narrative of our team. However, once it did take hold it really shone a light on individuals who, for whatever reason, would not or could not behave in the way that our new group norm identified as acceptable. It gave those people an opportunity to develop these new communication and behavioural skills or in some cases it gave them an opportunity to rethink their career choices.
From my personal perspective, as someone who is acutely aware of using mistakes of the past as a learning opportunities, this group focus has had a big impact on my own communication style. It is a constant reminder that 'you are how you are perceived and that you can control that perception by your own behaviour'.
There are, after all, three things that you cannot recover in life:
The word after it is said; the moment after it has been missed and the time after it has gone!
Business Coach for General Practice Owners??General Practice Business Excellence??General Practice Business Growth??General Practice Leadership??GP Recruitment??General Practice Profit Increase??General Practice Strategy
9 年'The fish rots from the head down'. Leadership comes at all levels but those in senior positions need to be accountable and lead by example in particular.
Manager at Colonial First State Global Asset Management
9 年Really great article and definitely re-affirms that we must hold ourselves accountable for our conduct and as leaders ensure that all members uphold set standards of conduct
Founder at Craig's Table- Recipient Summa Comp Laude 2021-22 Recipient Bloom Making a Difference Award 2023
9 年Paul Flynn there are so many times when a team needs to be reminded of just why the "team" must work together. No one could ever imagine the star players leaving the arena -the surgeon, the anaesthetist -the theatre nurses, all in place with a person life in their very skilled and very dedicated hands. But these are just the star players- the cleaners, the suppliers, the list managers, are also a part of the team that goes for he most part unseen and unheard. Can you imagine what the outcome if under the operating table was left a bucket of stale water, or if the supplies had not been placed where needed, or if the duty managers double tripled booked the same operating team over multiple theatres. All of us need to be working above the line and all of us need to know that the entire chain in each direction relies on us to do our part.