Team Innovation & Change Contract: “The Horizon Navigators”

Team Name: The Horizon Navigators

Purpose/Mission: To collaboratively identify, develop, and implement innovative solutions and sustainable change initiatives that enhance patient care, optimize operational efficiency, and foster a culture of continuous improvement within [Your Healthcare Organization Name].

Vision Statement: To be the catalyst for transformative change, empowering our organization to proactively adapt, innovate, and lead in delivering exceptional, patient-centered healthcare, ultimately setting new standards of excellence for the Kisumu community and beyond. We envision a future where innovation is embraced, change is managed with agility, and every improvement truly elevates the well-being of our patients and staff.

Core Values & Guiding Principles:

As the Horizon Navigators, our work will be guided by the following core values:

• Patient-Centricity: Every innovation and change we pursue will prioritize the safety, dignity, and optimal outcomes of our patients.
• Collaboration: We believe in the power of diverse perspectives and inclusive engagement, fostering a spirit of mutual respect and shared ownership.
• Integrity: We commit to honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct in all our processes and decisions.
• Agility: We will embrace flexibility, learn from challenges, and adapt quickly to evolving needs and insights.
• Accountability: Each member is responsible for their contributions and for upholding the team’s commitments.
• Excellence: We strive for high-quality, data-driven solutions that deliver measurable improvements.
• Courage: We will challenge the status quo, embrace intelligent risk-taking, and champion new ideas.

Specific Team Agreements for Success in Innovation and Change:

To achieve our vision and uphold our core values, the Horizon Navigators agree to the following specific commitments:

1. Communication Guidelines: * Open & Honest Dialogue: We commit to open, direct, and respectful communication, even when discussing difficult topics or differing opinions. * Active Listening: We will listen to understand, not just to respond, ensuring all voices are heard and considered. * Timeliness: We will respond to team communications (emails, messages) within 24 hours during working days, or as agreed upon for urgent matters. * Clarity & Conciseness: We will strive for clear, concise, and actionable communication to avoid misunderstandings. * Confidentiality: All discussions related to sensitive organizational data, patient information, or internal personnel matters will remain strictly confidential within the team and relevant stakeholders.

2. Meeting Expectations: * Punctuality: We will start and end meetings on time. Members arriving late will do so quietly and catch up independently. * Preparation: We will come to meetings prepared, having reviewed all pre-circulated materials and completed assigned tasks. * Active Participation: We will actively contribute ideas, ask clarifying questions, and engage constructively in discussions. * Focused Agenda: Meetings will have clear agendas circulated in advance, and we commit to staying on topic. * Actionable Outcomes: Every meeting will conclude with clearly assigned action items, owners, and deadlines.

3. Decision-Making Process: * Consensus-Driven (Default): For major decisions, we will strive for consensus, ensuring all team members feel heard and can support the final choice, even if it wasn’t their initial preference. * Defined Authority (Backup): If full consensus is not achievable after reasonable discussion, the designated Team Lead (or a pre-defined decision-maker for specific types of decisions) will make the final call, clearly articulating the rationale. * Evidence-Based: Decisions will be informed by data, research, and best practices.

4. Conflict Resolution: * Direct & Respectful: We will address conflicts directly with the individual(s) involved first, in a respectful and constructive manner. * Focus on the Issue, Not the Person: We will discuss ideas, processes, and data, avoiding personal attacks or assumptions. * Mediation (if needed): If direct resolution is unsuccessful, we will involve the Team Lead to facilitate mediation. * Commitment to Resolution: We are committed to finding mutually agreeable solutions that support the team’s objectives.

5. Accountability & Roles: * Clear Roles: Each team member’s role and responsibilities for specific tasks will be clearly defined and agreed upon. * Ownership: We will take full ownership of our assigned tasks and commitments, proactively communicating any foreseen challenges or delays. * Mutual Support: We will offer support to teammates who are struggling, and request help when needed, fostering a spirit of collective success. * Progress Updates: We will provide timely and honest updates on our progress to the team.

6. Innovation & Risk-Taking: * Embrace New Ideas: We will foster an environment where all ideas are welcomed and considered, regardless of their initial perceived feasibility. * Intelligent Risk-Taking: We understand that innovation involves risk. We commit to assessing risks collaboratively, developing mitigation strategies, and learning from failures. * Learning from Failure: We view setbacks not as failures, but as valuable learning opportunities, promoting a growth mindset. * Pilot & Iteration: We will advocate for pilot programs and iterative development cycles to test innovations safely and effectively.

7. Confidentiality & Trust: * Patient & Organizational Privacy: We commit to upholding all hospital policies and legal requirements regarding patient confidentiality and organizational proprietary information. * Internal Trust: We will maintain trust within the team by honoring our commitments, being reliable, and treating each other with respect. * Respectful Dissent: Disagreements will be contained within the team discussions, and once a decision is made, we will present a united front externally.

8. Continuous Learning & Feedback: * Growth Mindset: We commit to continuous personal and professional development, staying current with best practices in healthcare innovation and change management. * Constructive Feedback: We will offer and receive feedback constructively, viewing it as an opportunity for improvement. * Post-Mortems & Debriefs: After major projects or milestones, we will conduct debriefs to identify successes, challenges, and lessons learned.