A few weeks ago, I left my office, turned left down the hallway and suddenly was on the heels of a slow moving patient and her companion. They each instinctively looked behind them to see who, or what, was about to run them over.

When that happened, quite frankly, I was a bit embarrassed.

Of course, I slowed down and apologized sincerely. Still, it seemed something more than “I’m sorry,” was in order.

While I can’t remember where I was flying off to, I remember them and wonder, where were they going to and coming from. Had they just been to our wound care or chemotherapy clinics? Were they on their way to an MRI or the Billing Department?

They were not old, but not young either. She carried her body heavily, legs dragging, shoulders bent. A large plaid coat hung loosely over her shoulders. Her husband held onto her elbow. His support more emotional than physical.

Most presumably they were tired and maybe even scared or sad.

Such a different rhythm than mine and everything around them.

Hospital staff move quickly with determination not to be late. Some just as quickly come to full stop and catch someone for an impromptu meeting.

In addition to the outer obvious rhythm, there’s a contrast to the inner world rhythm, too. While they are dealing with illness and probably wonder how they’ll manage to take care of family, work and financial obligations, we are dealing with assessments, treatment plans, diagnoses and documentation.

Their world is spacial, broad, circular. Ours? Narrow focused and linear.

Being out of step with the world around you can cause a certain type of wariness or hyper-vigilance. Especially when it’s not “your world”. 

This sense of not belonging or fitting in, can break the fragile bond between caregiver and those we are in service to. It’s intangible like air, but as powerful as the wind.

And that’s why, I realize, I was embarrassed. I left my office not thinking about them and stole a quiet moment of their inner world that was fragile at best and announced my presence like an unconscious Rottweiler/ tornado.

By “robbing” them of sense of belonging or hospitality, they feel more vulnerable and can carry this with them into their next medical interaction.

It’s a chain. A chain of hospitality versus inhospitality. And it can grow, in either direction, exponentially.

So how do we ensure hospitality and welcome others with conscious intention into our work environments?

Hospitality

I’ve long appreciated the linguistic connection between hospital and hospitality. I’ve heard some worry about creating the expectation of a 5 star hotel experience.  While we can’t achieve that with the comfort of our beds or linens, there are ways we can approach this in how we meet and greet people during our day.

Here are 5 Star ways you can use mindfulness to shift your attention to the rhythm of the person you are caring for.

1. Observe: Observe how you move about your place of work. Notice your sense of familiarity, how this influences your way of being. What level of comfort do you have to make choices and be in control.
2. Pause and Reflect: Before leaving one space to go to another, pause. Think about the bigger reason you come to work.
3. Be Prepared: Know that people who come to where you work are not as comfortable as you. Even if they come to your space weekly, they still know it’s not their place.
4. Slow Down: It’s not easy to slow your pace when you are on a big or small mission. Yet the time you take to walk a beat or two more slowly, will unconsciously spread the feeling of caring and that no one has to feel in a hurry. (Even when you hear Code Blue announced.)
5. Smile: A warm smile is the quickest way to set someone at ease and feel welcome.

That’s what I did with that couple. I gave them a smile along with my apology. And they smiled back.

While I know I won’t remember every time I’m heading somewhere to match my step with those around me, I’m committed to this little shift in attention and intention to set a rhythm of welcome and belonging.

There are so many ways you can bring a sense of hospitality to your place of work. Click here to share what you do.

Much love,