Sodexo at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center: Aren't we all problem solvers?

Usually when I hear people complaining there are too many problems at work, I can't help but wonder, aren't we all supposed to be problem solvers? Isn't that the reason why we all have a job?

It's all in our perspective, how we look at things. If you put your perspective in the right place, solving problems should be exciting and exhilarating. You should feel alive when you put your mind and heart into solving the issue.

There are a lot of people who enjoy solving puzzles. It relaxes them. So, am I right to say if we look at each challenge as an opportunity, it will make our day more rewarding and enjoyable! It might even relax our mind, just like how solving puzzles does!

In the Food and Nutrition department at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, a Sodexo managed account, we serve 800 patient meals each day and run a busy retail operation. We have challenges like any other operation but we work together as a team. Even if our system is down, our oven is not working, or when we are short of staff, you will never hear any yelling in the operation. Some of us might look tense as we are focusing on the job at hand but we never lose focus on putting our patients at the heart of everything we do. When we put that into perspective, we all work together as a team focusing on our common goal- Providing exceptional service to our co-workers, customers and patients.

Recently, our Food and Nutrition Director, Linda Clay, conducted training classes for all Food and Nutrition colleagues to reconnect with all colleagues on the importance of their role in the patient experience. She shared an interesting story of President John F. Kennedy's visit to NASA. While he was there, he asked a janitor what he did. The janitor answered, "I am helping to put a man on the moon". Linda used the analogy to remind everyone what they do is important and that we are helping the patient get well.

I hope this article will help remind all readers that we are all problem solvers. So, the next time when someone comes to you with a problem, tackle it like you would when you solve a puzzle. Remember the satisfaction that you will have when the problem is solved. It's all in how you see it. Putting it in the right perspective goes a long way. You don't have to do it alone! Get feedback and guidance from someone else. I bet you will make new friends along the way.

I would like to share some pictures of our colleagues in the Food and Nutrition department at Lahey that contributes to the patient experience. Thank you for your positive attitude and demonstrating the Sodexo CARES behaviors (Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Enthusiasm and Service).

Thank you for putting patients at the heart of everything we do!