Rekindling the spark. Five strategies to help healthcare administrators remain motivated when facing change.

Many healthcare administrators find it difficult to stay renewed in their careers as pressure mounts on an already stressful work environment. Five strategies can rekindle the spark that once made a healthcare career so attractive. Sharply focused goals are the infrastructure of a harmonious work environment. When people progress toward achieving goals, dissatisfaction with their work environment decreases. Healthcare administrators must also find solutions to problems that chip away at happiness, such as chronic understaffing or a personality conflict with a colleague. If supervisors develop positive problem-solving attitudes, employees tend to emulate them. Administrators need to personalize their leadership style. If subordinates sense their administrator is involved in their occupational struggles, their loyalty will increase and their stress will decrease. A manager needs to be surrounded by creative, energized people because upbeat people have a way of renewing one's spirits. Meaningful friendships can provide support and a fresh perspective on problems. Finally, healthcare administrators must remain steadfastly hopeful even when budgets cast red ink and the future direction of healthcare is uncharted.