Takeaway
Kind gestures, like routinely saying hello to all members of the healthcare team, can foster a sense of belonging that enhances collective well-being and promotes collaboration in caring for patients.
Lifelong Learning in Clinical Excellence | May 7, 2025 | 1 min read
By Laura Hanyok, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine
When I started working as a resident physician, I observed that one of our attending physicians seemed to know everyone in the hospital. All the security guards, the cafeteria cashiers, the nursing techs who cared for the patients. I was impressed that he took the time to know everyone’s name and how even just a hello from him made some of their faces light up. It taught me that small gestures to acknowledge someone—which shows that they matter—go a long way.
What does research tell us? The 2023 Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index found that people who regularly said hello to people in their neighborhood had higher personal well-being scores as compared to those who greeted zero neighbors.
What does that mean for us in healthcare? Well, I would suggest that our “neighbors” are the people we work with. Saying hello, asking about a colleague’s loved ones, or asking how their weekend went matters. It helps build relationships and connections that help you in doing your work. It also appears to improve your well-being.
In this uncertain time that we’re living in, finding small opportunities to improve your wellbeing matters and is doable. I’m personally a fan of Bite Sized Tools for well-being from the Duke Center for the Advancement of Well-being Science—practices that take only a few minutes per day but have been shown to improve well-being.
You never know when someone is having a tough day, and how your saying hello might help them feel better. Those small “hellos” are a bite sized tool to help us all feel better.
Click here to learn more about the author.
This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.