Posts
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Performance Matters - #20
Problems are an inherent part of management. The question is who owns the problem. Too often managers take on problems that they don't own, and shouldn't own. Here are a few thoughts on problems and decisions pertaining to them.
First, don't make decisions that don't need to be made. It may not be your problem, it may not be your decision, it may not need a decision, or it may not need a decision now. Making a decision you do not need to make is always A WRONG DECISION!
Second, don't take on problems that are not yours. Those who report to you should not be allowed to bring problems to you that is in their area of responsibility. Instead, if they can not solve a problem on their own they should come to you with solution options they have considered and with questions pertaining to problem clarification and solution implications. After discussing those matters with you it is still their decision not yours.
If problems are yours and a decision is appropriate, always solve problems quickly and definitively, do not allow them to “brew”.
Be proactive!
Not deciding or deciding in a reactive manner is never as effective as being proactive. Being proactive builds motivation, trust, and loyalty.
LEAD!
Bob
Performance Builders
Copyright 2008 Performance Builders
First, don't make decisions that don't need to be made. It may not be your problem, it may not be your decision, it may not need a decision, or it may not need a decision now. Making a decision you do not need to make is always A WRONG DECISION!
Second, don't take on problems that are not yours. Those who report to you should not be allowed to bring problems to you that is in their area of responsibility. Instead, if they can not solve a problem on their own they should come to you with solution options they have considered and with questions pertaining to problem clarification and solution implications. After discussing those matters with you it is still their decision not yours.
If problems are yours and a decision is appropriate, always solve problems quickly and definitively, do not allow them to “brew”.
Be proactive!
Not deciding or deciding in a reactive manner is never as effective as being proactive. Being proactive builds motivation, trust, and loyalty.
LEAD!
Bob
Performance Builders
Copyright 2008 Performance Builders
Friday, June 20, 2008
Quotable
"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it."
- Henry David Thoreau
- Henry David Thoreau
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Performance Matters - Idea #19
Understand that most Practice managers and supervisors have have earned their titles by having been successful professionals with a technical/scientific training. Most have never received training in business and management; and if asked, most would acknowledge that they honestly receive more personal/professional satisfaction in the clinic than shouldering the burdens of management.
The litmus test is to ask them the question, "What gets you up eagerly on Monday mornings and what keeps you willingly after hours?" For most its not management issues.
Management requires a markedly different set of priorities and skill sets than clinical services.
Most who are in Practice management roles have had little training or mentoring to prepare them for success and satisfaction in a manager's role. Most have questions - lots of questions. Most have vulnerabilities that contribute significant unrecognized risk to the Practice.
Help managers and supervisors to acquire the skills and perspectives they need to optimize their value to the Practice. Provide them with competent training and mentoring support. Doing so will yield significant benefit to the Practice that will be measured in performance, retention, and return on investment.
Oh, and keep in mind that all mentors and training programs are not created equal.
We see a significant number of Practice managers return to school for long hours and at considerable cost to earn an MBA. We also see many of them return to the Practice with newly acquired MBA perspectives but not sure how to leverage their Practice for better performance, more reward, and less risk and worry.
Then there are professional association so called mentoring programs that engage those who want to be mentors but who more often than not lack the technical skills and breadth/depth of experience to make them truly valuable to those they would mentor. Such relationships are in fact too often dangerous to those being mentored.
The best advice is to secure mentoring and training support from those with proven ability to bring our the best in managers and the best in Practice performance.
Bob
(c) Copyright 2008
Performance Builders
The litmus test is to ask them the question, "What gets you up eagerly on Monday mornings and what keeps you willingly after hours?" For most its not management issues.
Management requires a markedly different set of priorities and skill sets than clinical services.
Most who are in Practice management roles have had little training or mentoring to prepare them for success and satisfaction in a manager's role. Most have questions - lots of questions. Most have vulnerabilities that contribute significant unrecognized risk to the Practice.
Help managers and supervisors to acquire the skills and perspectives they need to optimize their value to the Practice. Provide them with competent training and mentoring support. Doing so will yield significant benefit to the Practice that will be measured in performance, retention, and return on investment.
Oh, and keep in mind that all mentors and training programs are not created equal.
We see a significant number of Practice managers return to school for long hours and at considerable cost to earn an MBA. We also see many of them return to the Practice with newly acquired MBA perspectives but not sure how to leverage their Practice for better performance, more reward, and less risk and worry.
Then there are professional association so called mentoring programs that engage those who want to be mentors but who more often than not lack the technical skills and breadth/depth of experience to make them truly valuable to those they would mentor. Such relationships are in fact too often dangerous to those being mentored.
The best advice is to secure mentoring and training support from those with proven ability to bring our the best in managers and the best in Practice performance.
Bob
(c) Copyright 2008
Performance Builders
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Good Cause - HydrAid Safe Water
I've had the privilege to consult with a client the past few months that is dedicated to providing safe water to impoverished people world wide - HydrAid TM BioSand water filter. HydrAid is a subsidiary of International Aid, a faith-based not-for-profit (501 (c)(3) company.
They provide simple to use water filters that produce 75 gallons of safe water daily - that's enough for all of the water needs for a household of 10 people. The filter will last at least a decade. The cost is a mere $50 each. Heck, at that price donate one each month!
Did you know that unsafe water carries disease. Unsafe water is the cause of about half of the disease in the world - more than AIDs and cancer combined! And waterborne illnesses are killing more than 5,000 children each and every day. It is the largest cause of death for children–nearly one child every 15 seconds.
You can make a difference. Visit their website at http://www.hydraid.org/ to learn more. And, while you are there join with me in making a donation.
Consider what you likely spend on coffee and bottled beverages each month, then give generously. You will be glad you did! Your gift will be health giving and life saving.
Oh, and be sure to share the HydrAid story with friends and family.
Bob
They provide simple to use water filters that produce 75 gallons of safe water daily - that's enough for all of the water needs for a household of 10 people. The filter will last at least a decade. The cost is a mere $50 each. Heck, at that price donate one each month!
Did you know that unsafe water carries disease. Unsafe water is the cause of about half of the disease in the world - more than AIDs and cancer combined! And waterborne illnesses are killing more than 5,000 children each and every day. It is the largest cause of death for children–nearly one child every 15 seconds.
You can make a difference. Visit their website at http://www.hydraid.org/ to learn more. And, while you are there join with me in making a donation.
Consider what you likely spend on coffee and bottled beverages each month, then give generously. You will be glad you did! Your gift will be health giving and life saving.
Oh, and be sure to share the HydrAid story with friends and family.
Bob
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Quotable
"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand." - Woodrow Wilson
