I don’t want to keep fighting fires, I want to stop them from starting.
The fires keep coming and you can’t see help on the horizon.
If the fires keep coming and it’s beginning to get you down, this episode is for you. Prompted by an actual statement from a regular listener, I took to learning how fires are prevented some of the tactics of those who fight fires in the wild and what healthcare could learn from these ideas.
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You want to prevent the fires not spend your days fighting them.
If the fires keep coming and it’s beginning to get you down, this episode is for you. Prompted by an actual statement from a regular listener, I took to learning how fires are prevented and some of the tactics of those who fight fires in the wild. I took that and coupled it with some ideas out there on how you can move slightly into the realm of preventing fires rather than fighting them.
As with all things, you are looking for a 1% shift. If your day is 90% fire fighting, don’t expect to jump to 0% immediately. Yes, make a goal (which might not be 0) but also what would 80% or 85% look like and what will it take to get it to that?
Prevention is always harder, slower and less sticky. There is less heroism and excitement. It’s more planning and organising. It’s investment rather than splurging. If they aren’t your strengths - who can help you, what can you leverage?
Links and Resources
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4 Reasons You’re Always Putting Out Fires at Work | The Muse
Preventing Burnout: How to Tackle Fire Fighting in the Workplace
Always Putting Out Fires at Work? Here’s a Checklist to Keep You Calm
7 Ways To "Put Out Fires" Like Firefighters - Calendar
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