In 1964, W. D. Hamilton, one of the most influential evolutionary biologists of the 20th Century, introduced the theory he called “inclusive fitness.” Inclusive fitness involves the number of offspring and offspring equivalents an individual rears, rescues, or otherwise treats altruistically. Hamilton showed mathematically that, because other members of a population may share one’s genes, a geneRead more
When healthcare organizations embrace a change orientation, they consider the tough calls that lead to innovation part of the way they do business, not a process or project they engage in for a given period. People innovate when they see a benefit—when they perceive that the change will improve their condition, not when someone else wants it. The following questions willRead more
Integrity is not a raincoat you put on when the business climate indicates you should. Integrity creates a condition that guides your life—not just a set of protocols. Courageous leaders don’t acquire their moral gyroscopes solely by learning general rules. They also develop them—those deliberative, emotional, and social skills that enable them to put theirRead more
Intellectually, healthcare executives understand they must champion change to keep pace with and outrun their competition. Yet, people often feel trapped by their own ideology, acting as though an oppressive regime or organizational structure has been forced on them by an unknown agent. They see themselves as victims. Usually, they have created their own traps and tyrannyRead more
The pesky reality of self-interest. A client recently told me, “Physicians only change when there’s something in it for them.” I assured her that statement applied to every human she knows, not just the physicians she is currently working with.Read more
