eLABorate Topics

Staffing shortages are at an all-time high and you want to recruit and retain the next generation of leaders but are struggling with diversity among your team. You don't think it is pay and you are getting applicants, but for some reason, there is still a disconnect.

Unconscious biases affect a company or business on every level and can affect some of the most important decisions made. From hiring to firing, benefits, and promotions; unconscious biases are ever-present in business.  These biases can cause extremely negative effects in the workplace, such as lack of creativity, lack of diversity, and lack of growth.  While not always easy to recognize or discuss, it is absolutely critical to survive and thrive in today's rapidly changing workplace.

In today's episode, Tywauna Wilson shares how unconscious bias could be preventing you from recruiting and retaining talented employees.

Tips for Avoiding Unconscious Bias in Recruitment 

• Start with data
• Evaluate message and source
• Standardize application process
• Define clear criteria
• Audit hiring practices
• Implement de-identified hiring techniques

Tips for Avoiding Unconscious Bias in Retention

• Survey employees
• Increase awareness
• Structure reviews and promotions
• Monitor pay scales

Reflection Question

• What strategies is your organization deploying to decrease unconscious bias in its recruitment and retention efforts?

Call to Action
WE would love to feature YOU!!! Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Connect with Coach Tee Wilson
To connect with Tywauna for more on this and other leadership and personal development topics visit: TywaunaWilson.com or connect with her on LinkedIn for the invitation to join the Trendy Elite Leadership Tidbits Community where you can learn grow and develop in the area of leadership and personal development.

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn
5. Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

In this episode Lona Small, Stephanie Whitehead and Tywauna Wilson spoke with Dennis Strenk from People of Pathology podcast.

This was a roundtable about the podcasters’ experiences podcasting on eLABorate Topics podcast and People of Pathology podcast.

The discussions surrounded:

·      What led them to start the podcasts

·      What they learned from podcasting

·      Some of the most memorable episodes for each podcaster

·      Their next- level dreams for the podcasts

Listen to the full podcast episode to hear from each podcaster, their unique experiences, and perspectives.

Please connect with Dennis Strenk on LinkedIn.

Call to Action

We would love to feature YOU!!! Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1.     Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform

2.     Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 

3.     Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!

4.     Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

5.     Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

Do you need to improve your lab's procedures for standard work, reduce “work-arounds” or do you want better results out of your lab’s projects? This episode is a sequel to S2 Ep. 4 "Lean on Me" and is the perfect listen for any leader that wants to work smarter, not harder!

Today, co-host, Stephanie Whitehead, and returning special guest, Sarah Cook CLS, LSSBB, continue their conversation about LEAN and discuss the essential principles to Measure, Monitor and Sustain process improvements in the lab.  

Tune in as Sarah mentors our listeners on how to use the DMAIC strategy (and other tools) to positively influence common projects in the laboratory!

If you are a formal or informal leader in your laboratory, grab your pen and listen closely for advice on how maximize the outcomes in your lab and drive results for your team!

Special Guest Bio:

Sarah Cook, CLS, LSSBB is a collaborative, multi-faceted consultant with proven experience in project management, quality and process improvement, and integrating organizational change with business strategy and tracking of key performance indicators. With a proven history of achieving and executing on a company's visions and goals, Sarah has experience collaborating with Executives and team members of all levels to drive results. 

Listeners can follow Sarah on LinkedIn @Sarah Cook. 

Call to Action
WE would love to feature YOU!!! Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn
5. Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

Zoe Brooks is a dreamer, disruptor, educator, visionary and entrepreneur who has dedicated her life to the development of a better process to manage laboratory quality and thus reduce healthcare costs. If you want to REALLY understand something – teach! She credits her ten years teaching “Clinical Lab Data Interpretation” at UMDNJ/Rutgers with her deep insight into problems and solutions. Zoe loves to create Excel “Q-See Simulators” that allow you to model the impact of your decisions on patient risk. Stop memorizing statistics; understand how your QC design decisions impact patients!

Zoe spoke about a Quality Control (QC) process that focuses on Risk management. This process will reduce risk to patients by preventing reporting incorrect results that do not meet the requirement for intended medical use. This QC process will also report the cost and number of errors. By reducing error and cost this process contributes to enormous cost saving to the laboratory and healthcare.

Listen to the full episode to find out the details about the use and benefits of the new QC system including helping with staffing shortage.

This QC system is open for trials in your lab running alongside your regular QC system to compare, and publish results.

Please contact Zoe Brooks at [email protected] if you want to be a site for this system.  Visit the website at awesome-numbers.com

You can also catch Lona Gordon Small on LinkedIn and lonasmall.com

Call to Action
We would love to feature YOU!!! Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1.     Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform

2.     Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 

3.     Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!

4.     Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

5.     Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

All great laboratory leaders have many common traits outside of their technical abilities. Even if you don't have these competencies today, you can develop them over time. When you do, it will take your leadership to the next level regardless of what path you choose to take in the laboratory, on or off the bench.

In today's episode, Tywauna Wilson shares 10 critical competencies of great lab leaders.

A few of those critical competencies shared:

• Self Motivated
• Ability to Delegate
• Communicate Effectively
• Ability to Develop Others
• Be Committed
• And More... You have to listen to the full episode for the others

Discover the leader in you! 

Reflection Questions

• Do you possess at least half of these competencies?
• What are you actively doing to strengthen your leadership competencies?

Call to Action
WE would love to feature YOU!!! Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn
5. Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

The eLAborate Topics podcast is celebrating 100 episodes! 

In 2020, Tywauna, Lona, and Stephanie set out on a journey to help mentor, coach, and educate laboratory professionals through sharing weekly messages in this podcast. Almost two years later, the eLABorate Topics podcast has exploded and reached listeners in Africa and Canada with a successful following on social media!

Tune in today as the co-hosts reflect over their eLaborate Topics journey and share tidbits from their favorite episodes. 

What’s your favorite episode? Drop a comment in the LinkedIn: eLABorate Topics Group and give us your feedback!

Join Team #eLABorate and connect with us!

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn
5. Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be our Guest!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Thank you for continuing on this journey with us and we look forward to many more episodes!

Do you ever felt anxious, embarrassed or shy to start small talk?
Have you ever avoided someone at work because didn't want to have a conversation?

Effective communication is essential to build relationships, grow teams and harvest trust. But communication is not always easy and sometimes starting or holding a conversation can be tough. 

In this episode, Stephanie Whitehead shared expert tips to master any conversation or social situation with confidence and ease. If you are a formal or informal leader in your laboratory, grab your pen and listen closely for advice on how maximize every conversation!

Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

You can connect with Stephanie Whitehead on all social media platforms @Stephanie Y Whitehead.

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1.    Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform

2.    Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 

3.    Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!

4.    Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

5.    Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

 
Be a Guest on our show!
We would love to feature YOU!!!
 
If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

Do you feel like the pandemic has brought havoc to your social networks, connections, and professional relationships? 

In this episode, Lona Small discussed the challenges of the pandemic with social connections. She discussed the opportunities that came out of these challenges to create new ways and discover existing ways we can connect.

Lona also discussed examples of how people are using these new tools and finding it more convenient and effective to connect.

Lona discussed Virtual communities as a tool to connect, learn grow and support each other.

Guidelines mentioned for an effective Virtual community include:

·       Have fun

·       Set community guidelines

·       Set a goal for the community

·       Allow individuals to set their goals for the community

·       Build in accountability

·       Have individuals with a diversity of experiences and knowledge

·       Have shared connection, purpose, and sense of belonging.

Lona went into detail to include the benefits of being part of a virtual community.

Listen to the full episode to find out the details on how you can connect and grow through Virtual Communities.

Call to Action

Chat with Lona at https://calendly.com/lonasmall/next-level-role
to learn how to become part of the LabOPEX next Level community

You can reach Lona Small directly at [email protected] if you have questions regarding this subject or you want to contact her regarding LabOPEX coaching and training. You can also catch Lona on LinkedIn under Lona Gordon Small and follow hashtag #YouAreAnEqualPartOfTheWhole.

We would love to feature YOU!!! Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1.    Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform

2.    Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 

3.    Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!

4.    Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

5.    Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

Ever thought about a career in Medical Laboratory Science? Being a MLS is like taking a journey into a new and exciting world. Just like when you go on a journey, you are able to explore all the different areas and learn about all the new things.

In today’s exciting episode the co-hosts  Lona Small, Stephanie Whitehead, and Tywauna Wilson share their experiences of being women in Medical Lab Science.

Key Topics the Co-Hosts Shared in this episode

• Their Journey into the medical laboratory science field
• Favorite part about being a MLS
• Background and strengths needed for leadership
• Lessons learned from being a leader in healthcare/lab

How did you find the medical laboratory science field? What is your favorite part about being a laboratorian?

Call to Action
WE would love to feature YOU!!! Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn
5. Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

Effective feedback is one of the most valuable things a laboratory leader can give. According to a study, 96% of employees say they want to hear feedback regularly. The use of effective feedback comes with significant benefits such as reducing staff turnover, providing better business outcomes, and increasing productivity. 

By providing feedback, laboratory leaders can improve their own skills while also helping their team members grow. By giving and receiving feedback in a safe and positive environment, medical laboratory professionals can improve their work, learn new techniques, and build productive relationships.

In today's episode, Tywauna Wilson gives three easy steps of how you can give feedback that gets results and keeps your team engaged. 

Step #1 - Be Positive
Step #2 - Be Specific and Objective
Step #3 - Give Actionable Advice

Discover the leader in you! 

Reflection Questions

• Do I have a continuous turnover of members leaving my team?
• How often do I give feedback?
• What type of feedback do I give most often? Is it helpful for the receiver?

Call to Action
WE would love to feature YOU!!! Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn
5. Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!