Laughter in the Hallways: A Vital Sign for Organizations?

     We probably all visit a lot of organizations. Have you ever seen a meeting interrupted by the sound of people laughing outside the door? Maybe your host even apologized for the disturbance.

     I think the sound of people laughing is worth all the interruptions in the world, and it's much more a thing of value than a cause for embarrassment. I think it's one of the features of a healthy organization. In fact, I think it's a vital sign. Why? Because it's one of the most natural things in the world for people to do when they're relaxed and having fun.

     That's when great caregivers do their best stuff.

     Think about every patient you have ever watched go into shock or develop shortness of breath. What was your first hint of trouble? They stopped expressing spontaneous humor. Next came spontaneous speech, usually in syllables per sentence, then speech in response to questions, then obedience to commands and so on. But the thing they always lost before anything else was their sense of humor.

     I think people behave in exactly the same way when their organizations get sick. The disorders that kill organizations are almost always fear, distrust and cynicism. If you've ever had to struggle with any of those barriers, you know they predictably drive away an organization's most valued people.

     If folks are smart, they probably don't get into EMS for the money. What's left, mostly, is fun. When that disappears, they trickle away. But you can tell when they're thinking about leaving, because they don't laugh so much. They don't smile so much, either, when you pass them in the hallway. As a trained observer, this stuff should be easy for you to spot-in your own organization and in others. It never happens overnight. Like any vital sign, you need to monitor it all the time.

     Of course, a lot of what we do is serious. There are circumstances that warrant controlled levity-like in the middle of a busy communications center. That's why people in communications centers need more frequent breaks than the rest of us (hint, hint). But break rooms are fair game for guffaws, and so are hallways. Especially hallways where bosses work.

     If you're a boss and you need to limit your interruptions for a few minutes, you can always close your door. Only don't forget to open it again. You may miss something you really need to hear.

Thom Dick has been involved in EMS for 35 years, 23 of them as a full-time EMT and paramedic in San Diego County. He is currently the quality care coordinator for Platte Valley Ambulance Service, a community-owned, hospital-based 9-1-1 provider in Brighton, CO. Contact him at boxcar414@aol.com.