Sharing Important Stress Issues with Superiors

Sharing Important Stress Issues with Superiors

 

 

Do you need to speak up about a major problem?  Do you worry your supervisor will think you’re a whiner or inept in carrying out your job role?

 

Anyone can feel very nervous in squaring off with a supervisor.  But sometimes, it’s important—and even life-saving, if safety issues are at stake—to speak up. 

 

These tips can help you prepare to share your issues:

 

·         Never attack people personally.  Always state your need to share a problem, but point out to your supervisor, “I want to help fix the problems, not attack an individual in this.”

 

This keeps your supervisor from becoming defensive.  After all, if you have an issue with a nurse, doctor, or your EMS partner, your supervisor might feel caught in the squeeze.  Supervisors can start to argue or block out the problem.  Then, you’re really on a limb.

 

·         State the problems by asking questions.  For instance, say, “I wonder how we might diffuse tension between our department and a certain ER doc?”  Or say, “Could we advise ER nurses to give us more information before they talk to a patient’s family?”

 

·         Act enthusiastic about inventing solutions.  Never act as if a problem is hopeless.  For example, you might say, “We have this huge problem, but I’ll bet we could all think long and hard and come up with a good solution.”

 

·         Tell the truth without demeaning someone.  Occasionally, you must name someone as “the problem.”  There’s no way around it.  Use sensitive language, but place the problem clearly on the shoulders of your supervisor—where it belongs.

 

 

Let’s say you are a paramedic and you know that an EMT, Paul, is making serious

mistakes here and there.  Paul, understandably, is worried about his wife, who is ill.

 

You must voice the problem to Elizabeth, your shift supervisor.

 

You might say, for example, “Elizabeth, I hope you’ll monitor Paul in some fashion.  He can’t help being under personal stress, but he’s making mistakes.  This is not like him to lose focus, but this is too important to ignore.”

 

Copyright 2008 Hopson Global Education and Training