1 Easy Way to Connect With Consultants and Create a Friendly and Collaborative Emergency Department

I was introduced to this habit via the Tim Ferriss Show Podcast, during an interview with Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece. Laird is considered by many to be the greatest big wave surfer of all time, and Gabby has been named one of the “20 Most Influential Women in Sports” by Women’s Sports and Fitness and is best known for her success in beach volleyball. During the interview, Gabby describes a habit of hers that she enjoys with the goal of increasing the frequency of positive interactions with others. She says, “Practice Going First.” Here’s a snippet from the interview:

Gabby: “I always say that I’ll go first... That means that if I’m checking out at the store, I’ll say hello first. If I’m coming across somebody and make eye contact, I’ll smile first. [I wish] more people would experiment with that in their life a little bit: Go first, because - not at all times, but most times - it comes in your favor. The response is usually pretty amazing. I was at the park the other day with the kids. It was a crazy day, my kids were energetic, running around and playing. There was this lady there, much older than I was, walking by calmly, almost looking irritated by the energy of the kids. But I when I walked by her, I just looked at her and smiled. The smile came to her face so instantly. People are ready... but you just have to go first.”

Tim: People are nicer than they look, but you just have to go first. I will often write “GO FIRST” in my morning journal as a daily prompt.

My thoughts: When walking the halls of the hospital at the end of a shift, I frequently notice other employees walking with their heads down as they pass by each other.  I don’t think it takes much effort to look up and smile or say hi, but I believe that it makes a positive impact on people. It makes me wonder -  How might the collective mood of the hospital could lift just a little bit with a few individuals spreading energy like this? Next time we have a new med student, new off-service resident, or a new face in the department, consider “Going first” 🙂

Dan