Lena Reily, Senior Manager of Operations at Community Living Ajax, Pickering, and Whitby, has over thirty years of experience in healthcare. She shares valuable insights on what makes a successful healthcare worker and hiring manager.
Lena emphasizes that certain personal qualities, which she calls the ‘It Factor’, are crucial for anyone looking to succeed in this field.
Understanding the ‘It Factor’
“Definitely patience, 100%. If you’re not a patient person, this is not the field for you,”says Lena.
She believes that being patient, flexible, compassionate, and dependable are must-have qualities for anyone in healthcare. These traits help professionals handle the unpredictability and emotional demands of their jobs.
Why Behavior Matters More Than Skills
Lena suggests that hiring should focus more on a person’s behavior and less on their technical skills or past job experience.
“We’re looking more at a broader spectrum of people, different types of experiences,”
This approach helps find staff who genuinely fit the caring and dynamic nature of healthcare work.
Leadership’s Role in Growth
Effective leadership is about more than just overseeing staff—it’s about growing with them. Lena points out,
“Most of us have come from being frontline staff ourselves… it’s just part of it.”
She highlights the importance of leaders who both possess and nurture the key qualities they seek in their teams.
Keeping Up with Changes
The healthcare job market is always changing, and Lena notes how their hiring practices have evolved:
“Things have really changed over the years of how we do our hiring.”
She talks about embracing a wider variety of backgrounds and experiences, which brings new strengths to healthcare teams.
Focusing on Personality and Team Fit
When building a team, it’s crucial to consider how new members will mesh with existing staff and the people they will serve.
“Focus on the person’s personality, how they’re going to fit in with the people that they support,“
Ensuring that new hires complement the team helps in providing better care and maintaining a positive work environment.
A New Approach to Hiring
Lena Reily’s perspective on hiring in healthcare suggests that finding the right people involves looking beyond resumes. It’s about seeing who will genuinely care and connect with patients. Emphasizing personal qualities in hiring can lead to a more dedicated, understanding, and effective healthcare team.
As healthcare continues to evolve, these insights are key to fostering teams that are not only skilled but also deeply committed to their roles. Lena’s message is clear: in healthcare, success is as much about the heart as it is about the mind.
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