In 2003, Quint Studer wrote Hardwiring Excellence: Purpose, Worthwhile Work, Making a Difference. Now, 20 years later, the world has changed drastically. While some widely embraced behaviors and processes need to stay hardwired, others no longer work well (or, in some cases, at all). In many areas, it’s time to rewire.
Rewiring Excellence: Hardwired to Rewired is Quint’s response to our rapidly shifting environment. Along with Dan Collard, who contributed to the book, he pinpoints the key areas that—at least in many organizations—most need rewiring. And he provides a wealth of practical how-tos for getting started. Here are just a few things leaders will learn:
How to evaluate whether a process, practice, or behavior needs rewiring (or whether it’s better left hardwired)
Why the Human Capital Ecosystem™ Assessment is a good starting point for reimagining your organization
Why popular practices like patient and employee rounding have become too complicated and how to make them doable again
Tactics for rethinking critical areas like selection and onboarding of talent, skill building, patient experience, employee well-being, and more
Why a “precision” approach to development is urgently needed in an industry with so many new leaders
Here’s the book’s overarching message: The decision to rewire is as individual as the organization itself. Let outcomes lead the way. If it’s working, great. Keep doing what’s hardwired. But if you’re not getting the results you want, don’t be afraid to let go of the past. Rewire, move forward, and keep making healthcare better and better as the world evolves around us.
