Collabs are not exclusive to Generation Z. Remember when David Bowie teamed up with Queen for "Under Pressure" in 1981? And who can forget Michael Jordan's iconic partnership with Nike when the first Air Jordan shoe made its debut in 1985? From music to fashion to even food (Taco Bell Dorito Loco, anyone?), America has always been obsessed with collaborations.
As exciting as pop-culture collabs are to think about, there’s a significant difference between a collab and true collaboration. A collab shines a spotlight on two unique areas of excellence for a brief moment in time. True collaboration blurs the lines, making it difficult to discern the real star or long-term work.
The original American collaboration remains one of the greatest examples of the strength of this idea. Nothing highlights the strength of coordinated teamwork quite like the family farm.
As a physical therapist, it’s common to feel like you’re an “income generator” while others are viewed as "support”. However, after spending years in and out of “the field”, I believe it’s healthier to approach the delivery of care from a farming perspective.
Marketing and growth professionals discover fertile ground and prepare the field. Partner clinics and business development professionals plant the seeds. The front office nurtures them as they sprout and grow, ensuring deep and connected roots. Clinicians join in as the crop takes life, bearing fruit. Patient services and income cycle professionals harvest with care, minimizing any waste from previous efforts.
Every part is dependent on each other. You can’t sow in a barren field, and you can’t harvest if no one planted. If there’s no one to harvest it, then the growth will rot. It's not just about doing your job expertly, it's about setting up success for everyone in the process after you.
In physical therapy, the dedication of the credentialing team and attention to detail by the front office can both contribute to the eventual success of the income cycle. The efforts of CIV can help ensure smooth care delivery without unnecessary interruptions for the clinician. Success is a team effort and is woven into the big picture that we're all in this together.
When you truly collaborate, you don’t need your hand on every plow and you don’t have to water every plant yourself. Trust that your team is doing their best work alongside you. It leverages your strengths and mitigates your weaknesses.
There are very few things that sound as fun as a Taco Bell Dorito Loco, so you need to look for those opportunities along your journey. You’ll find in the long run, the fleeting energy of being a superstar is empty in comparison to the fulfillment of collaborating as part of a team.