We launched a new phase of our app for our patients and Primary Care services this week. The build for this phase was huge and we have been steadily working on it for the previous four months (designing, building, testing, messing up ad nauseum).
I think we’ve really nailed what we intended to do. As we collect more data, it should show that we’ve increased how efficient things are running at the practice, that more revenue is being made and that patients also prefer our new app to the existing means.
My main fear for this launch was actually the practice and the number of staff that work there.
As our app continues to expand and increase in its abilities it requires a concerted effort by everyone at the surgery for it to really work to its full potential.
I was initially worried about this. Up to now, a small number of staff at the practice have been doing everything and they didn’t even need to do much to make the app as successful as it has been. Now everyone in the practice has a small part to play to make it really grow and have a bigger impact.
Could they do it? Would they do anything wrong? What happens if they simply don’t want to?
These were the questions running through my head. Although the launch itself went without a hitch, I was leaving the surgery still thinking that someone may mess something up. That’s when someone from the team said:
“It’s up to us now”
At that point I just felt a massive sense of relief. I truly do believe that the team are all bought in now. I realised that giving people something to do with regards to my app isn’t bad. It’s actually good, because now everyone is bought in and involved in the mission.
I guess being a leader is about leading from the front, aligning people and then creating change. Maybe I was trying to create change from the back and by not leading all this time.
One thing’s for sure though – if someone does mess up. I won’t be upset or angry. I’ll be grateful they tried.
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