I didn’t think I would learn about taking pride in your work while staying in a hospital, but that’s exactly what happened last weekend. I was admitted for a short overnight stay. The next morning, two ladies came in to clean my room.

Both women greeted my husband and I with a friendly hello. They immediately and efficiently went to work; each with their own tasks to complete. My husband asked a question about the style of mop being used. One of the ladies gave him an in-depth explanation of a recent change that was made in their equipment, why the change was made and how the current mop provided better results for the patients than the previous one. When their work was done, they asked if there was anything else I needed.

As they left my room, a notecard was placed on my bedside table. (I wish I had thought to take a photo!)

The card explained that they were happy to be part of my treatment plan and noted that a clean hospital environment would help me heal. There was a checklist of the work done: they cleaned the sink and toilet, wiped down the equipment on the wall, mopped the bathroom floor and the room floor, and checked if personal care items needed to be replenished. Both of the ladies had signed and dated the card.

The hospital system’s website states,

“We’re dedicated to providing the best in people-centered care…Everything we do is centered on delivering the care that’s best for each patient’s unique situation and personal needs.”

Even the staff cleaning the sinks, toilets and floors can speak to how they are part of achieving that goal. It is a great accomplishment by the leadership of Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital to help employees see, in a very real way, how their day-to-day work is tied to the organization’s overall purpose.

Can your team members tie their day-to-day work to your company’s mission? Can they explain to customers why changes are made? Are they proud of their contributions to your organization’s success?