By: Allison McCarthy, MBA | amccarthy@barlowmccarthy.com

Band of Brothers is an HBO mini-series that dramatizes the 101st Airborne Division “Easy” Company’s WWII experience – from jump training through major battles in Europe. Watching it for the second time, something different caught my attention.

The soldiers of “Easy” Company volunteered for this parachute infantry regiment to serve an important function – dropping into Normandy on D-Day and pushing the Germans out of Europe. What they didn’t expect was a borderline abusive training officer – Captain Herbert Sobel – played by actor David Schwimmer (Friends fame). His approach was torturous – for the most minor infraction he would cancel leave for all and force the unit to work through exhausting drills instead.

While the Captain eventually lost the Company’s leadership position, his soldiers ultimately grew to appreciate the discipline and stamina he instilled in them – which they relied on to survive key battles in Belgium, Germany, and France.

Work can often feel like a battlefield for those of us in physician recruitment and onboarding roles. The pressure to recruit providers into lackluster opportunities and start new clinicians within unrealistic onboarding timelines is a daily phenomenon. It’s easy to think we’re being asked to do the impossible, get discouraged and be ready to give up.

In her book “Grit”, Angela Duckworth identified four key attributes of perseverance.

  • Interest – enjoying the effort – not necessarily all aspects of it but the endeavor as a whole
  • Practice – daily discipline so that skill is continuously improved
  • Purpose – conviction that the work matters
  • Hope – learn to keep going when things get hard

Like “Easy” Company, during the most challenging times, remember that this work has a purpose. Successfully recruiting and onboarding new providers contributes to the organization’s mission and the health of our communities.

When frustration or discouragement decides to visit, make a list of all the positive aspects of the work and then a second list of the negatives. While there are politics to navigate and assorted opinions to satisfy, there are perks i.e. making our own schedule, dining in the best restaurants or experiencing other locations for specialty meetings and career fairs. According to Duckworth, we don’t have to love every aspect of our work – just have an interest in the majority of the role and manage the less appealing obligations.

During their downtime, the “Easy” Company soldiers talked about the future – where they wanted to go and what they wanted to do when they completed their tour of duty. They created personal visions and goals which supplied the hope needed to get them through the rough times.

Each one of us also has to create a “hope” agenda. Whether it’s advancing a specific skill or expertise (cold calling, marketing, reporting), assuming a new role/responsibility (manager, practice administration, physician relations) or improving a personal attribute (patience, positivity, courage), a growth plan will help us recognizes the benefits of the challenges. These situations offer a learning environment to practice the techniques and talents needed to achieve future goals.

All easier said than done – I know. But watching Band of Brothers reminded me that there are positives to be gained in the hard times. “Easy” Company’s men recognized that their grueling training provided the physical stamina needed to survive. Then the battlefield taught them how to think, react and manage themselves to become one of the most recognized military Companies of WWII.

As the song goes “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger………”.