Having a critical eye is an important skill for healthcare professionals. Whether assessing lung sounds, preparing to administer chemo, reviewing a medical history, or interviewing a patient, it is critical to find out what might be wrong! Yet constantly looking at things through a critical lens can contribute to a negative atmosphere, become a habitual perspective, and/or exacerbate what might be blaming, judging elements of a toxic culture.
Don’t worry! Many simple experiential activities from Medical Improv can be used to promote a sense of support, build trust, and contribute to the wellbeing of a team. Experiences that are often joyful and unfamiliar.
What Kind of Exercise?
One example of such an activity is Radical Acceptance. Here each member of a team states 3 items from a general topic such as desserts while the rest of the group responds with increasingly enthusiastic “YES”es. It takes about 5 min for a group of 8 and looks like this:
Frivolous Use of Time?
In the fast-paced, high-stakes, high stress world of healthcare, spending even one second on something that isn’t related to patient care may seem inappropriate. Yet, look at how these people are leaning in with support and the joy they are experiencing…together! And consider the feedback this palliative care physician shared in a recent email:
Interestingly, I tried your ‘radical acceptance’ with a group of about 15 people midway through a long meeting today. Much to my surprise they engaged with it, enjoyed it and want to do it again. They liked being cheered!
Dr Esther Waterhouse FRCP
Consultant in Palliative Medicine
Associate Medical Director for Medical Leadership Development and Mentorship.
Clinical Lead for Schwartz Rounds
WALSALL HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST
Maybe it will feel risky to lead it. And finding the right time and place is a consideration, yet with feedback like this and practically no cost involved, activities like Radical Acceptance can impact your team in big ways!
Learn How to Teach Simple Activities!
This Spring, two longer sessions of GCTD are being offered online through Dartmouth Continuing Education.
More info and registration links:
Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 11:30 AM – 3:15 PM – EST: https://dh.cloud-cme.com/
Friday, May 19, 2023, 7:45 AM – 11:15 AM – EST: https://dh.cloud-cme.com/
As always, let me know if you have questions, ideas, or feedback: Beth@bethboynton.com.
Follow
