I remember a time when I lost a valuable coworker. Her husband was being transferred to another part of the country. So after five years of working with Beth, we had to say good-bye. I remember people saying the unit would never be the same. They wondered how we would go on. Beth was always there with a kind word and a hug, a fresh baked casserole, or a well needed pep talk. Always available to come into work at the last minute, when the census rose, Beth would come running into the nurses’ lounge her arms full of books, bags and food to help.
Beth was a smart, efficient, experienced nurse, willing to jump in when someone was overwhelmed or explain a difficult concept, if asked. “The place just ran smoothly when Beth was here” was the quote you heard most about Beth. It’s startling to think one person had so much influence on everyone in the unit. Other nurses had come and gone and were barely a blip on our radar screen. But not Beth-she was special-she was essential.
Am I an essential employee? Are you? Would the place come un-glued and fall apart if we no longer worked there? We all have certain colleagues we consider indispensable. If we didn’t know they would be there during the tough times; we would probably have quit years ago. What traits do these coworkers possess that others do not? I suppose when you get down to it, these people fulfill everyone’s basic needs.
Remember learning in school about Abraham Maslow's famous hierarchy of needs? Here are the explanations that make the most sense to me.
Physical: hunger, thirst, getting rid of waste, avoiding pain, seeking physical pleasure.
Security: protection, safety, stability at home and work.
Belonging: love, family, friends, affection.
Esteem: achieve, be competent, gain approval, independence, status.
Learning: know, understand, and mentally connect.
Aesthetic: symmetry, order, beauty, balance.
Self-actualization: realize our own potential, self-fulfillment, peak experiences “Be all that you can be.”
Transcendence: help others realize their potential.
Beth did all of this in her own special way. Beth certainly fulfilled our physical needs; forever bringing in baked goodies, and cut flowers. She was responsible for organizing and contributing to most of our unit potlucks. Beth helped everyone feel that they belonged to a “family.” Our unit celebrated birthdays, holidays, and births regularly. When personal tragedy struck she was the first to organize the troops, sending condolences and taking up collections.
Beth was a teacher and mentor to many novice nurses—she fulfilled their learning and self actualization needs. Under Beth’s “tootiledge,” nurse residents learned, grew confident and realized their full potential.
Beth kept the unit smooth and balanced, fulfilling our need for security and aesthetic symmetry.
When you think about it, Beth didn’t do anything extraordinary. She was kind, thoughtful, patient and professional. But she did it with heart. Maybe you don’t have to be a superwoman you just have to have “heart.” Maybe that is the quality that makes one essential.
Do you know a Beth? Are you an essential employee?