Elise Nieuwhof knows healthcare like no other, from her professional field - she is an HR consultant - and as a mother of a child with intellectual disabilities. She contributed to the campaign TMA Cares for Care out of the belief that caregivers, with the right attention, can bring smiles to their faces and those of their clients.
Amidst the COVID-19 period, Nieuwhof stepped down as a manager at the Heeren Loo care institution after nearly ten years. She provided care for a terminally ill friend, her son - who has Down syndrome - moved out, and she also moved her 86-year-old mother. Afterward, it was time to contemplate what she wanted: continuing as an independent HR consultant. In the meantime, she's undertaking various assignments, including flexibilizing the intake process at Sherpa, an organization providing support and treatment for people with intellectual disabilities.
Quality of Care Elevated
She can now also be called a TMA Professional, as Nieuwhof completed that training in between her engagements. For TMA Cares for Care, she conducted TMA conversations with numerous healthcare providers. "During the pandemic, so not live," she explains. "Yet, within fifteen minutes of each conversation, there was intimacy. It almost happens naturally when you discuss someone's 'toolbox' and the wonderful things they can accomplish with it. I found it truly beautiful to have conversations about how someone's talents can help them realize their dreams."
Beautiful, but also crucial, she emphasizes. "I once managed 120 people while working 28 hours a week. However much you want to, you can't give the right attention to everyone. Many managers in healthcare face this issue. Yet, being able to provide qualitative attention to employees is crucial to retaining them in the profession. When they feel heard and seen, the quality of care they provide improves. That quality lies in the moment when a caregiver connects with a client, leaving both with a positive feeling."
Making a Positive Impact
"There's a lot of effort being put into recruiting for healthcare, which is good, but the turnover remains high," says Nieuwhof. "With talent management and a tool like the TMA Method, healthcare organizations have a means to focus more on the specific talents of their employees. Employees feel more heard and seen, and they're happier on the job. I see a great opportunity for TMA in this. With the help of the TMA Talent Analysis, you can give employees the right individual attention in a positive manner."
Positive feedback and qualitative attention are key, according to her. "We have quite a Calvinistic culture where we quickly point out someone's mistakes. It's much better to acknowledge where someone's strengths lie and what they can achieve with them. That leads to unique conversations. After all, each person is unique! I wish every healthcare worker could have such a conversation to gain insight into their personality and be given the space to develop their talents. Because when that employee walks around with a smile, it has such a positive impact on that one moment of interaction with a client or family member."