eLABorate Topics

Are you managing your team to perform at its highest level of productivity?
Is your team committed to the idea of being a part of a high functioning laboratory?

Listen to the episode, with pen and paper, as Stephanie Whitehead, MBA, MPH, MT (ASCP) guides listeners through the necessary steps to motivate your team and drive results!

Tune in as she walks the listeners through:

• The difference between employee satisfaction and employee engagement
• The reasons why team engagement is so vitality important to your laboratory’s team success
• How to use consistent feedback as a systematic approach to set appropriate standards of performance and manage expectations

The Leadership tools discussed in this episode are linked below.

Recommended Reading: Crucial Conversations by: Kerry Patterson
Sample Rounding Form: Download Rounding Form Here

Be sure to share this episode with a fellow Lab Scientist or CLS Student!

Drop a comment or connect with us on LinkedIn - eLABorate Topics Group!

Be a Supporter!

1. Listen on Directimpactbroadcasting, 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. Please share with a friend, colleague, or family member!!

Do you have a message to share?
Be a Guest on the Podcast!

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 at [email protected] or Direct Impact Broadcasting on Social Media.

The current climate of limited availability of well- trained medical lab professionals makes it even more important now to look at ways to retain the great employees we currently have. Even though there is significant burden of responsibility to retain well trained medical lab professionals  on the managers, there are others in the institution that play important roles in creating the environment to retain great employees. Team members play a huge role in building great working relationships, by being team-players and producing quality work. Organizational leaders are also responsible for setting up structures, mission and organizational objectives that contribute to a more pleasing environmental for medical laboratory professionals.

Listen to this full episode to get more details on ways to create the environment for better staff retention.

Key Points:

• How to offer an improved employee experience
• Increase employee productivity
• Increase morale
• Reduce patient safety events
• Improved financial savings
• Decrease in turnover

Call to Action:
What role do you play in creating a better work environment for your team? Do you have any best practices that have worked for better staff retention? Drop it in the comments or let us know on LinkedIn: eLABorate Topics Group

Be a Supporter!

1. Listen on Directimpactbroadcasting, 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. Please share with a friend, colleague, or family member!!

Be a 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 at [email protected], or connect with us on Direct Impact Broadcasting through Social Media.

The United States Department of Labor reported in April 2021 that job openings were at an all time high with record breaking job openings of 9.3 million. Our labs are not immune to this and we are seeing it with the numerous openings that are hard to fill and  colleagues leaving at a rapid pace with no replacements. This is leaving our workplaces feeling abandoned. Today's laboratorians have a choice. Do you stay and ride the wave or do you go?

In this episode, co-host Tywauna Wilson shares tips to consider when you are deciding to stay or leave an organization for greener pastures. 

Tips to Consider When Deciding to leave your current employer

• Is the grass really greener on the other side?
• Is this move, in alignment with my long term game or is this a short term win
• If I stay, how do I turn the overwhelm and stress into an opportunity
• And More

*Bonus* The lab community is small. Be aware the impression you are making with your current employer and colleagues   

Recommended listening: eLABorate Topics Episode 25: Defining Your Career Roadmap
Recommended Reading: Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferazzi

Call to Action:
Consider your current opportunity... Do you stay put or do you go? If you stay, what are some actions you plan to take to come out on the winning side of your current workplace crisis? If you go, what will make the opportunity worth it? Drop them in the comments and share your thoughts with us on  LinkedIn: eLABorate Topics Group

Be a Supporter!

1. Listen on Directimpactbroadcasting, 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. Please share with a friend, colleague, or family member!!

To connect with Tywauna for more strategies or join the monthly leadership roundtable, find her on LinkedIn at Tywauna Wilson or connect here.

Co-host Lona Small interviews Olibrian Mallari about his journey journey in the Phillippines and how he has been able to have success inside and outside of the lab. 

Pilipino Medical Lab Scientist Olibrian Mallari shared his journey from a Phlebotomist to Medical Lab Scientist, faculty member and now head of Hematology, Phlebotomy and involvement in many other roles. Olibrian also gave the audience a glimpse into some of the challenges and workings of medical lab professionals in the Philippines.

Olibrian discussed challenges of the medical lab professionals, as lack of visibility and little understanding about what medical lab professionals do, by the public and other healthcare professionals. There is the concept that the Medical lab Science is just a stepping stone or a Pre- Med program on the way to being a physician. Oli spoke about the challenges of wearing full personal protective gears in a humid climate, the challenges of online training for medical lab professional students, and the challenges of interns coming into the on a limited basis for face- to face training.

Olibrian discussed how he is using his background as an educator and his passion for the profession to bring visibility and education regarding the medical lab profession. Oli has a Facebook fan page to share information to the public, to educate them about the profession. He uses the opportunity when collecting lab specimens such as HIV, which requires coaching to teach patients more about medical lab professionals.

You can connect with Olibrian on Facebook as Olibrian Mallari and on Instagram as Slides and Lenses.

Be a Supporter!

1. Listen on Directimpactbroadcasting, 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. Please share with a friend, colleague, or family member!!

Be a 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 at [email protected] or connect with us on Direct Impact Broadcasting through Social Media.

Is your laboratory team diverse, both in common proxies (gender, race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc) and some of the less common proxies (education level, certification level, region of the county someone grew up in, social/economic class or even background)? By definition, diversity is recognizing each individual as the unique combination of experiences and perspectives that they represent creating a culture that allows each individual to contribute to their fullest potential. Today the co-hosts expand on this and discuss the need for active attention to diversity in the lab.

Key Points:

• Diversity in thinking is the new frontier
• Importance of being aware of diversity and inclusion in your workplace
• Giving intentional focus to diversity
• Best practices to make a meaningful impact in your laboratory

Call to Action:
How are you helping make your laboratory team more diverse? Any best practices you have discovered? Drop in the the comments or let us know on LinkedIn: eLABorate Topics Group

Be a Supporter!

1. Listen on Directimpactbroadcasting, 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. Please share with a friend, colleague, or family member!!

Be a 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 at [email protected] or connect with us on Direct Impact Broadcasting through Social Media.

In this episode, Stephanie Whitehead talks with Medical Lab Lady Gill (Tiffany Gill) about her career in the laboratory profession and how her role as an educator inspired her to create the popular YouTube channel, “Medical Lab Lady Gill”. Today, Professor Gill’s YouTube channel is an internationally viewed space with over 17K subscribers! The channel features helpful videos that teach fundamental medical laboratory science techniques through procedural videos and offers an online store with laboratory apparel designed by Lady Gill!

Listeners can follow Tiffany Gill on Twitter: @MedicalLabLadyG

Visit and subscribe to Tiffany’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/c/MedicalLabLadyGill

Be sure to share this episode with a fellow Lab Scientist or CLS Student!

Special Guest Bio:

Tiffany Gill is a Professor and MLT Program Coordinator who has worked in a variety of clinical laboratory environments, from a small rural hospital laboratory to a greater than 900 bed teaching hospital LEAN laboratory, in various positions. Although Professor Gill has taught courses in all disciplines of the clinical laboratory, she found her love for education after volunteering to teach Chemistry in the hospital-based MLS program where she worked. Her position was unique because she was able to be a senior technologist in the Core Lab, train employees, perform competencies, teach students in clinical rotations, work with pathology residents, and educate students in a classroom environment. Wanting to further her passion as an educator, Ms. Gill accepted the position of MLT Program Coordinator at the College of Southern Maryland. Since then, she has created a technology-enhanced program that offers collaborative learning experiences with students in other healthcare programs, as well as, ways for students to serve the community. She currently serves as a faculty mentor and an ASCP mentor. Her ultimate goal is to improve the safety and effectiveness of healthcare through collaborative healthcare education.

Be a Supporter!

1. Listen on Directimpactbroadcasting, 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. Please share with a friend, colleague, or family member!!
4. Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!

Be a 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 at [email protected] or Direct Impact Broadcasting on Social Media.

Did you know the 200th greatest tennis player wins about 49% of the points they play versus the #1 greatest tennis player in the world wins about 53% of the points they play. The difference of being ok and being the best in the world is making 4% fewer mistakes, at least in tennis. Career mistakes can be just as costly! There's a big difference in losing a job and being promoted. Sometimes success is more dependent making fewer mistakes rather than doing something spectacular. While mistakes are a part of the process, they can matter, and matter a lot.

In this episode, co-host Tywauna Wilson shares 5 BIG career mistakes you should avoid and what to do instead.

Five Career Mistakes to Avoid:

• Failing to network
• Not dressing for the position you desire
• Failing to improve/continuously learn
• Staying at a job you dislike
• Chasing the money

*Bonus*-- Not making your boss look good

Call to Action:
Have you ever had one of these career mistakes? Or do you have other career mistakes our listeners should avoid? Drop them in the comments or let us know on LinkedIn: eLABorate Topics Group

Recommended listening: eLABorate Topics Episode 25: Defining Your Career Roadmap
Recommended Reading: Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferazzi

Be a Supporter!

1. Listen on Directimpactbroadcasting, 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. Please share with a friend, colleague, or family member!!

To connect with Tywauna for more strategies or join the monthly leadership roundtable, find her on LinkedIn at Tywauna Wilson or connect here.

Lona uses the framework from one of her courses “From Technical Expert to Impactful Leader” With the framework, Lona leads the listeners through the different steps to gain clarity on what needs to change. She leads the listeners into making the commitment needed, how to break the commitment statement into activities and milestones in order to have impactful outcomes of the change effort.

In this episode Lona Small discusses how we could lead and manage changes that are inevitable in our labs and workplaces especially now post pandemic.

Lona discusses and walk through exercises to:

1. Be Aware of Your Current Situation
2. Accept Your Situation
3. Be Accountable as a leader
4. Make The Commitment
5. Take Action

Listen to the episode with pen and paper and walk through the exercises to lead change as an impactful leader

Get full training of “From Technical Expert to Impactful Leader” here https://www.lonasmall.com/offers/x6PTsSey

You can reach Lona directly at [email protected] . You can also catch her on LinkedIn under Lona Gordon Small and follow hashtag #YouAreAnEqualPartOfTheWhole.

Be a Supporter!

1. Listen on Directimpactbroadcasting, 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. Please share with a friend, colleague, or family member!!

Be a 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 at [email protected] or connect with us on Direct Impact Broadcasting through Social Media.

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

In this episode, Stephanie Whitehead talks with Social Media Ambassador, Maria Roussakis, about her career in the laboratory profession and about how she has used the power of social media to engage and network with other clinical laboratory professionals all over the world. Maria’s popular Twitter chat, #MedLabChat, is a monthly discussion that features interesting topics for all laboratory scientists.

Be sure to share this episode with a fellow Lab Scientist!

• If you are interested reading Maria’s article with the HuffPost Canada, please visit: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/canadian-health-care-workers-coronavirus-spikes_ca_5e750f0bc5b63c3b64902d68

• If you are interested reading Maria’s article with Healthy Debate, please visit:
  https://healthydebate.ca/faces-covid/maria-mlt/

• Listeners can follow Maria Roussakis on Twitter and Instagram using @medlabmaria To read Maria’s blog, visit her website “My Kind of Science” https://mykindofscience.com/about/

  Special Guest Bio:
  In June of 2016, Maria Roussakis, MLT, MSc graduated from a Bachelor’s degree program in Medical Laboratory Science (Honours) from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, which allowed her to become a medical laboratory technologist. After writing her certification exam, she went on work in a community hospital setting within a multidisciplinary environment. In this role, she performed a variety of routine laboratory testing, in addition to performing venipunture and ECGs on inpatients. Maria continued in other similar roles, working in the core laboratory at another community hospital, gaining various knowledge and skills by experiencing different clinical cases. In the fall of 2017, she began a Master’s of Science in Health Science Education at McMaster University, and graduated this past fall. In April of 2020, Maria began working at McMaster University within the Platelet Immunology Laboratory, performing clinical testing and research on patients with suspected platelet immune disorders. During this time, she has volunteered with various laboratory organizations, such as the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Laboratory Professionals Association of Ontario, and the American Association of Blood Bankers.

Be a Supporter!

1. Listen on Directimpactbroadcasting, 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. Please share with a friend, colleague, or family member!!

Be a 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 at [email protected] or connect with us on Direct Impact Broadcasting through Social Media.

Influence is the impact to shape the character, development and behavior of others. No titles are needed to have influence but it is necessary for those wanting to lead at their highest level. One way to increase your influence is to become a masterful communicator where you will establish collaboration, confidence and show that you care.

In today's episode, co-hosts Tywauna Wilson and Lona Small sat down with Qiana Cressman about how to increase your influence and impact to lead at the highest levels. Catch the full episode for this engaging roundtable.   

Qiana Cressman has 20+ years of professional experience and has generated over $20MM in overall revenue. In 2018, she founded Emerge Enterprise Media, LLC: A multi-media organization that produces Emerge Woman Magazine, which is published in 3 countries, reaches thousands of readers and has featured over 200 womens’ stories. Currently, Qiana serves as Executive Director of Donor Operations at Miller-Keystone Blood Center. She is the youngest and first woman of color appointed to this role managing a team of more than 150 employees and managers. She holds board seats on the MTS Sickle Cell Foundation, Inc., Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, and serves as a national spokesperson and keynote speaker. In 2020 she was selected as a Woman Of Influence awardee by Lehigh Valley Business. Qiana has a B.S. in Management and a degree in Clinical Laboratory Science.

Key takeaways from this show:

• Key attributes of an influential leader
• How to be a masterful communicator
• Why being an active listener set influencers apart
• Paying attention to body language
• And many more helpful nuggets

Please leave questions, comments, or subjects you would like to hear on this show!

Website Resource:
Check out the American Management Association  for additional information.

Call to Action:
What tips will you practice more of today, to increase your influence to become a masterful communicator? Drop in the the comments or let us know on LinkedIn: eLABorate Topics Group

Be a Supporter!

1. Listen on Directimpactbroadcasting, 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. Please share with a friend, colleague, or family member!!

Be a 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 at [email protected] or connect with us on Direct Impact Broadcasting through Social Media.