Blog Post (Final assignment #3) I shed some light on the following questions: (1) What do you remember most about your involvement in the course? (2) Where did you struggle or feel challenged? (3) What “a-ha” moments did you have? (4) What have you gained personally from your involvement – what was your most significant “take-away?” (5) How has the course made you think about your work differently? (6) How has the course made you practice differently in your organization?
My Individual Involvement in the SPEC Classroom
What do you remember most about your involvement in the course?
Over the course of three years, so much can be discussed, but what I remember most stems from each year of participation. At the end of the first year, I remember gaining an appreciation for the acronym of SPEC, and within each principle, how all can positively affect the outcome of the community at large. At the conclusion of the second year, I saw the commitment on behalf of all participating organizations to this initiative. At that point in time, I began to see the project turn from a classroom-based theory experience to more of an organizational practice-based experience as participation increased. Finally, at the end of our third year, I remember the "Forces for Good" text, as it shared past experience of several high impact non-profit organizations and the steps they took to further grow their capacity and influence.
Where did you struggle or feel challenged?
I do not feel that I struggled regarding involvement in the classroom, however on an organizational level, the time that it takes to implement SPEC was and continues to be a bit of a challenge. With so many deadlines and relationships to balance during normal working hours, I sometimes find it difficult to participate in every SPEC related activity. CHI has been fortunate to have a strong and stable t-team, where loss of membership has not been an issue. This has allowed us to continue to further the SPEC initiative without too much loss of progress.
Organizationally, another area where I feel challenged is the concept of empowering some employees to action. As a practice of SPEC, empowerment is essential to creating community change, and I have always been an advocate of empowerment; however, I don't believe that everyone within our organization is ready professionally to be completely empowered. Perhaps levels of empowerment are more of what I feel appropriate for an organization as complex and as large as mine. With enough education, training and information about SPEC practice, eventually, more and more employees (with the goal of all employees) will be fully empowered.
What "a-ha" moments did you have?
All too often, organizations are told to focus on their weaknesses to increase impact. In the near beginning of the course, there was much discussion focusing on the organizational strengths. This was an "a-ha" moment for me. Focus on the things that we do well; find ways to improve our strengths and make them stronger while not neglecting our weaknesses.
Another "a-ha" moment included several times throughout the three years; when listening to other participants about their struggles and challenges. Their stories opened my eyes to the problems facing other non-profit organizations, and made me internally challenge the thought of how competitive we as non-profits are. Perhaps if we assisted each other in various ways, it would eliminate some of the struggles while also provide better continuity of care to our residents.
What have you gained personally from your involvement - what was your most significant "take-away?"
The most significant "take-away" that I have gained from my involvement in the SPEC initiative is the knowledge that things can change rapidly within an organization as large as mine and that employees can embrace change as long as they are part of the process and have a voice. This understanding has crafted a passion for voicing my opinion on issues, and not allowing any one person to singularly control the thought process of new initiatives that I participate in.
How has the course made you think about your work differently?
The SPEC course definitely opened my eyes in a number of ways. First, understanding how much advocacy truly does count; and while being part of the health care community, we not only advocate on behalf our patients, but for our state and national community as well. Secondly, to change community outcomes, ultimately, prevention is more important than being reactive to issues. Third, education is required to create change. Not just education regarding specific issues, but constant education on every issue, including education regarding issues that are not popular and perhaps regarding issues that are not on-topic. These and other factors have played a role in my growing sense of ownership at CHI.
How has the course made you practice differently in your organization?
The course has grown me to practice differently in my organization by the following ways:
- Encouraged me to share more information with others; perhaps at times a little more than is probably necessary.
- Made me more accountable - if you don't do what is necessary to make your environment better, don't count on others to do it for you until you.
- Further strengthened my thoughts and passion about prevention versus reaction with regard to healthcare services.
3 Comments
Hi Blake,
Thanks for sharing your reflections on the SPEC training. You make an interesting point about the empowerment of employees in the organization. You talk about levels of empowerment. I tend to agree that perhaps empowerment grows in stages, and that we always start where people are at. Like you, I believe that education about the causes of having or not having control over your life is very important. Education might bring about critical consciousness about factors that may keep people silenced in an organization or community. The more we understand sources of silence, the more we can challenge them. But to challenge them, education about causes is not enough. This is where skills and social support play and important role. Knowledge is good, but only a first step. We need to acquire and impart skills that help people to organize and voice their concerns.
Way to go Blake! Nice reflection on the SPEC course and related work at CHI. I appreciate your involvement in the course and the things your are tyring to make happen in and through CHI. I like that you saw the course moving from theory to practice-based as that is what we hoped to do in the course - use your concerete experiences with the t-team and other actions to reflect on "theory" and practice and generate new learning in the group. Reflecting on the past few years myself, I believe we build a pretty strong learing community and community of practice. I hope we can find ways to hold on to it.
Hi Blake:
Thanks for your insightful comments and for all that you have contributed to the SPEC class. As the class evolved from theory to practice and from instructor-led to shared leadership, I have found myself coming to class more as a learner. I have learned a lot from all of you. I resonate with your expressed struggle to engage in SPEC-related activities when so much of our day is consumed with meeting deadlines and demands. I believe it's an on-going tension that many of us share. Having a supportive group of critical friends can certainly help. I hope we can maintain our learning community of practice and continue to work toward greater inter-agency collaboration.
Ora
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