Clintcast

Today, Clint wishes everyone a truly happy holiday season with a Ho! Ho! Ho! On this day especially, it is vital that we in this people business embrace this spirit of giving as we have a uniquely poignant opportunity to ensure that those in our care have a chance to enjoy and share in the holiday spirit too at a time of year that is often very difficult for them. More so, it is just as critical that our approach be full of vim and vigor and not Ho-Ho-Hum. Let’s ensure that each other has a wonderful day today and throughout the upcoming year as well!

A common question that tends to arise at this time each year is whether or not paying bonuses is an appropriate measure in helping the success of an organization, and if so, what are some factors to consider in implementing them. A vital component to any bonus plan is the communication of the plan’s intentions and structure to all members involved. Learn some ideas on the strategic importance and execution of bonuses today’s episode!

Teaming makes it easier - absolutely! That being said, a natural question that arises is can we have staff that participate on more than one team? In this episode, Clint discusses this question and notes that while it is technically possible, it is most likely not a good idea for many reasons, both immediate and downstream-consequence wise. Listen in today to get some tips on how to best staff your rapid-cycle improvement teams to get the best bang for your effort as well as the best utilization of your staff.

People connecting with people to help people - that is what this profession is about. Being in the people business, by necessity, requires certain characteristics in order to succeed, and more importantly, to be happy in your role within the profession. Today, Clint talks about some of these traits that are critical to have, or at least develop, to ensure you have a long and fruitful career in the people business.

Team motivation can take a number of forms, such as incentives, internal promotions, obscure charting of progress and so forth. Today, Clint discusses what he considers to be one of the best means of motivation - frequent, specific, on-going feedback on where we stand against our goals. When folks can see immediately and easily how they, as a team, are progressing against high-level goals as well as the sub-process steps along the way, intrinsic motivation can become a powerful force for exciting the crowd. Check out some ‘rallying points’ today!

As Clint has discussed in prior episodes, we must not live in the past, but rather in the present. This does not infer however, that we cannot benefit from studying the past to learn from our former successes (and more importantly our failures) so as to better prepare for our potential future. This also does not mean we must act based totally on what worked (or didn't) in prior times, but it gives us the chance to see WHY something may or may not have worked in prior circumstances knowing that future circumstances might be similar but with different contexts or subtle differences that are significant. In the end, it is about preparation. Take a look (back)!

In the process of managing/leading others, there is a common need for time to be able to assert dedicated effort to specific tasks such as paperwork, reporting, planning, etc during which it is important to be able to close the door to your office. However, it is equally important, if not more important, to dedicate time to being ‘out of the office’. This doesn’t mean being offsite and inaccessible - quite the opposite in fact. It is critical to effective leadership to maintain accessibility, availability and frequent exposure to the team in their environment to lend support to their needs and to help them resolve concerns. Listen in today as Clint provides some pointers on honing this fine balance between getting your work done and assisting others with their tasks.

A large part of our success as an organization in getting new business, or retaining the business we already have, is driven by our marketing efforts. Developing marketing information that will effectively communicate your quality points is therefore a critical skill. A key aspect to this endeavor is remembering that it HAS to be about the customer. Many organizations have brochures, websites, commercials, etc that prominently feature the organization’s staff, facility and so forth, but offer little in the way of connecting with the customer’s needs. Today Clint discusses some things to consider as you go about crafting your opportunities to communicate with those who should do business with you.

It is common in life that decisions are routinely made by a committee, or at least a loose plurality with a common interest. It is our job as members of these groups to participate in the decision-making process by providing ideation effort to derive options, offer pro/con support to the resulting options and, most importantly, put our support into the team decision, even if the choice is not one we supported. Sometimes, egos are a bit bruised when other’s options are selected and it is vital that we are able to get over this let-down and move on with the business at hand as our team members are counting on us to help with the solution.

Today, Clint speaks to our Care Crowd Creed #2 tenet that Customers are Great! Great people are on both sides of the relationship in healthcare. It takes both parties, the caregiver and the care-receiver, to truly forge a great relationship whereby both parties truly expect and receive service excellence from each other. Of course there will be customers who are not always as cheerful as we like, or as thankful, or maybe have issues making their payments on time, etc. Remember that they don’t necessarily want to be customers in the first place (who can blame them) but that gives us the opportunity to help make their lives that much better, which can lead to a great relationship downstream. Get some great ideas today!