SELF-STUDY SERIES


scenes of leadership, leaders should offer and/or create opportunities that display their skills and talents as the technicians desire. For instance, one of your best and brightest is an amazing organizer who has no desire to lead others. Provide this technician with the opportunity to exceed expectations by helping to create the implementation plan (not lead the process) for an improvement project that others will follow. Another good oppor- tunity to exceed expectations is for your best and brightest problem solver. Allow this technician to attend meetings such as infection control, clinical engineer- ing, clinics or Labor & Delivery where concerns are shared and solutions are needed to improve the service of sterile processing. Remember the answer to many sterile processing concerns are in the minds and talents of those who do the work.


Opposite of the best and brightest be- hind the scenes of leadership are those who seek leadership opportunities. One way to make technicians feel valued is to fuel their passion by helping them succeed in reaching their personal de- velopment goals2


. The Sterile Processing


Leadership Competency (SPLC) is a mod- ule that sterile processing leaders can use to help strengthen the leadership skills of those who desire to lead others. Front line leaders hold the key to employee retention; therefore, a good leadership competency can help front leaders re- tain the best and brightest by providing proper training for effective leadership2


.


Communication (verbal and written), Problem Solving and Leadership Skills (people and processes) are three key objectives of the SPLC. The SPLC allows leaders to provide and document real


Sponsored by


leadership situations with feedback that will help develop the leadership skills of technicians who want to become leaders. Emergent leaders are technicians who


do not have official leadership powers. They have the most important power and that is inuence. When others perceive an individual as the “go to” person in the department, regardless of the indi- vidual’s title, the person is exhibiting emergent leadership4


. Emergent lead-


ers are individuals who are not official leaders but possess the traits of a leader along with the ability to inuence oth- ers to achieve a common goal. Emergent leaders are most often identified by the people around them because of their abil- ity to effectively communicate and get things done4


. Emergent leaders are also


often sought after by their leader when a problem arises and a solution is needed. These technicians are prime candidates for succession planning.


Succession Planning


Succession planning is a way to ensure the business of leadership is continued and the excellent service of sterile pro- cessing is not interrupted when leader- ship changes are required. Seeking and/ or training someone that could replace you takes a certain level of humility which some leaders may find challeng- ing. This type of thinking requires a leader to be emotionally intelligent, self-confident, yet unselfish. Succession planning is most successful in a culture that values developing people7


.


There are many styles and types of succession templates online that leaders can use to help guide the success of suc- cession planning for sterile processing leadership.


Sterile Processing Leadership Competency (SPLC) Sterile Processing Leadership Competency


Communication (verbal and written): Demonstrates ability to provide verbal and written communication including follow up


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Problem solving: Demonstrate ability to resolve problems independently


Leadership: emonstrate ability to independently lead daily operation people and processes  and document model created by oniue . els  R


36 December 2019 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • hpnonline.com Coach Date Summary


The best and brightest sterile processing technicians want to work in an environ- ment where they are making a difference and feel a sense of purpose. Understanding the balance between the goals of sterile processing and what really matters to the technicians is the key to being an effective leader with service excellence and employee engagement. Leaders who learn the importance of gaining trust and respect from those they lead will in turn be able to motivate and inspire others to shine bright with service excellence. When stressful situations overcome the sterile processing department, leaders must be self and socially aware, so they do not demotivate their best and bright- est technicians. Without a vision, the people perish, therefore sterile processing leaders must create opportunities for technicians to exceed expectation, provide leadership competencies for those whose seek to lead, and identify emergent leaders who can sustain the business of leadership when sterile processing leadership changes are required. Sterile processing is the foundation for which surgery stands, and our best and brightest technicians are the cornerstones that create sterile processing service excellence.


Conclusion


Thank you! To the many sterile processing technicians who work tirelessly behind the scenes of surgery every day ensuring instrument sets are complete and safe to use from one patient to the next, without seeing the fruit of your labor. You are the best and brightest of sterile processing. HPN


Monique L. Jelks, BA, CRCST is an Educa- tional Consultant to 3M Health Care. Jelks is the operation manager for sterile processing at Ascension Health St. Vincent, Indianapolis, IN. She began her career as a surgical technologist in her home town of Detroit, MI in 1993. Monique be- came a Certified egistered Central Service Technician


(CRCST) after working hard to improve OR — SPD relations. Since 2013, she has presented a wide variety of motivational presentations to encourage sterile processing technicians throughout the US. Monique holds an associ- ate degree in science and surgical technology from Highland Park College in Detroit, MI, and from Indiana Institute of Technology she earned both a bachelor’s degree in business


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