“Soul is mysterious, living, organic energy serving as a unifying, holistic web of connectedness through the universe.” This is a pretty New Age-y metaphor to use in advising health care companies how to run their business better, but the authors do translate it into specific actions and thoughts that seem to be do-able both on a macro and a micro basis.

Basically, they consider an organization to have “soul” when it cares about its employees and customers and takes actions to prove it. The authors contend that companies can even improve their bottom line by becoming “soulful.” They give a multitude of case studies for a range of corporate situations as well as on an individual level. Low morale because of fear of losing their job or unpleasant working situations can create lower productivity among employees whether it is a profit or non-profit corporation. A high worker turnover rate can cost a company in terms of loss of efficiency, training expenses and the possible loss of customer base if the ex-employee takes their customers to a new company.

Ways to improve the situation range from promoting a more homelike atmosphere in the workplace (personal mementos, plants, softer lighting) to better communication across managerial levels, especially if the corporation is going through a critical period, to spending time and money to do career planning with each employee. This could include psychological testing to determine what her/his strengths and weaknesses, what kind of jobs they are best suited for and how they fit into the overall scheme of the corporation both for the best interests of the individual and the corporation.

Henry and Henry, both business consultants with extensive history in health care, present thoughtful and helpful plans for both individuals and groups–in health care or not–to make their lives more meaningful and enjoyable, especially at work. Numerous excellent, current references for career-enhancing strategies and books as well as an index are included.
 

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Categories: ClientReviews, General, MentalHealth

Keywords: Practice Management & Reimbursement, Health services administration