eLABorate Topics

Co-Hosts Tywauna Wilson, Lona Small, and Stephanie Whitehead discuss various strategies achieving work life balance for today's laboratorian.
 
"Work-life balance will mean different things to different people because, after all, we all have different life commitments and in  our always-on world, balance is a very personal thing, and only you can decide the lifestyle that suits you best."-  Hank Jackson, president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management 

Key Takeaways from the show:

Issues that cause work life inbalance:

• Increased Responsibilities at work
• Working longer hours
• Increased responsibilities at home
• Family priorities

Signs you or a coworker may be over stressed or need downtime

• Just need a break
• Headaches/migraines
• Staff not participating as much as they used to
• Loss of interest
• Back pain
• Short tempered/find that you are losing your cool

Tips for taking downtime or creating balance

• Let go of perfection
• Strive for excellence
• Set limits
• Schedule your breaks and days as best you can
• Don’t over schedule yourself
• Learn to say no
• Detach from work; having the clear expectations of limits

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Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast platform

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

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], Direct Impact Broadcasting on Social Media, or complete the Guest Interest Form. 

In this episode, co-host Tywauna Wilson discuss simple tips to be a success in your new supervisor role.

Being a new supervisor can be intimidating. Whether you get promoted from within the team, leading a brand new team, or supervising an established team, they all present their unique challenges. What if you make mistakes? You will, don't worry :-). What if you don't know the answer? You will not have all the answers, that's why you have a team. As long as you commit to being a good supervisor, you will feel confident in no time!

"It is wise to keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final"- Roger Babson

Success Tips For A New Supervisor:

• Start setting a good example from the moment you think you may be promoted to supervisor
• Strengthen your competencies in:
  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Time Management
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Giving Feedback
  • Team Building
  
  
• Be a Careful Observer
• Get to know your team
• Keep learning
• Ask the right questions of the right people
• Go to Gemba

Call to Action:
Share with us, some of the best advice that you received when getting promoted to your first supervisor role. Were there things that you wish you would have known?

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Listen on Directimpactbroadcasting, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform. 

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

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.

Special Guest Bio:

Donna Marquess, FACHE, MA, MT(ASCP), SBB, DLMcm is a seasoned healthcare executive with strong roots in laboratory medicine. With a BS degree in Medical Technology, and specialty certifications in Blood Banking and Lab Management, Donna oversees hospital testing laboratories at a large hospital system. Her interest in mentoring future lab professionals led to many years teaching at the university level and earning a Master’s degree in Instructional Systems Development, furthering her knowledge in adult learning, which is key to developing strong leadership skills. A firm belief in lifelong learning and a second passion for politics and law led to Donna enrolling in law school where she will begin my third and final year in 2021. Donna’s love for team building and career growth within the laboratory field drives her desire to raise the visibility for the medical laboratory sciences profession. Her recent promotion to Vice President of Lab and Imaging Services allows her to shine a spotlight on this amazing profession and pave a path for others.

Donna would love to hear from any listeners with questions or comments! She can be reached via email at [email protected].

Key takeaways from this show:

Have you ever felt like there are a few people in your organization that everyone knows?

Are your actively working to increase your professional visibility?

Laboratorians are sometimes referenced as the “behind the scenes heroes” but, in this episode, the eLABorate Topics podcast will be exploring why it is important to focus on raising your visibility and, the benefits of being aware of how visible you are professionally. Tune into this interesting episode, as Stephanie Whitehead discusses tips on increasing your professional visibility with Donna Marquess.

If you are a laboratory professional seeking guidance on what steps to take to get more involved and become more visible – this podcast is for you!

Be a Supporter!

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform

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

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.

In this episode of eLABorate Topics podcast Lona Small, discussed the old way of approaching errors in the lab and the new way of system thinking as a way to reduce errors. Lona discussed the old approach of only focusing on the person involved in the error. She showed that remedial retraining does not solve patient safety errors unless lack of training was found as the root cause.

Lona mentioned the many factors involved in system thinking such as Patient (acuity, age etc.), Care team (including family), Organization (infrastructure layout, hospital or clinic, lab), and Environment (regulatory etc.)

She discussed the steps to take involving system thinking when there is a lab error.

1. Consider the system design.

2. Talk to your team to understand all possible system design factors that could cause errors (gather data).

3. Meet with other care teams outside of your team that are part of the affected system.

4. Together discuss your findings.

5. Together identify flaws in the system that could have caused the error ( people, process, infrastructure, environment)

6. Discuss solutions and understand how changes could affect each other ( unintended consequences).

7. Make changes and monitor.

8. If error is reduced, create new workflow, procedure or document new policy.

9. Continue to monitor.

NOTE- there is no error free lab.

For a quick guide to help you start stepping out of the lab and working with other teams as part of the system thinking.

Use this gift: 5 Baby Steps out of the Basement- Resulting in Giant Leaps To The Executive Suite https://www.lonasmall.com/pl/133013

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

Be a Supporter! Listen on DirectImpactBroadCasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 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 connect with us on Direct Impact Broadcasting through Social Media.

In this episode, co-host Tywauna Wilson interviews Lashanda N. Waller, PhD about her journey from working in research laboratories to the private sector laboratories and the differences of each pathway. Ms. Waller has then went on to package her genius and own a laboratory consulting firm where they help labs bring up new instruments, develop quality management plans, inspection prep, and policies and procedures. 

Guest Bio:
Lashanda N. Waller, PhD has an extensive background in the fields of microbiology, proteomics, clinical toxicology, and molecular biology utilizing mass spectrometry and molecular testing platforms throughout these fields. Previous projects include discovering surface biomarkers of microorganisms for biodetection/vaccine targeting and detection of post-translational modification sites produced by stimulated molecules present in the insulin/IGF-1 pathway of diabetic disease models. She is currently a Senior Clinical Toxicologist for drug screening and confirmation laboratories servicing clients in the clinical and criminal justice arenas. Lashanda has also partnered with a fellow scientist to offer consulting services for multiple scientific platforms.

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

Be a Supporter! Listen on DirectImpactBroadCasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 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 connect with us on Direct Impact Broadcasting through Social Media.

Stephanie Whitehead and Tywauna Wilson did another behind the scenes with the cohost. They discussed Lona Small’s professional journey from Jamaica via the Caribbean islands to the US. They discussed Lona’s failure to accomplish her first professional aspiration leading up to her current passion of giving back to the medical lab profession as a Quality Assurance Specialist, Process Improvement consultant, and coach and trainer.

Lona shared some of her favorite lab memories, some leadership nuggets and some things that failure and success taught her. Lona went into some details on advice for emerging lab leaders and ways to fill your professional toolbox.

 Lona discussed ways to stand out in your career and contribute to the profession and industry at your highest levels.

1) Finding out your unique competence

2) Don’t be afraid of failure and

3) Getting coaching, getting into a community or a support group.

Lona spoke also about the LabOPEX Growth Academy (LGA community) that will be launching at the end of February and the opportunities for lab professionals at any stage of their profession to grow and support each other in the LGA community.

You can keep abreast with weekly news from Lona learn how you can join the LGA community by subscribing to newsletter - https://www.lonasmall.com/pl/133024

LinkedIn- Lona Gordon Small and hashtag #YouAreAnImportantPartOfTheWhole

Facebook- Lona Small LabOPEX

Instagram - Lona Small Labopex (@lona.small)

Tune into this episode as returning special guests Kristine Talamante and Joycelyn Jones discuss how they have taken the opportunity (with a new year, 2021) to reflect on their lives and career and see what adjustments they will be making to advance themselves and restart their careers this new year!

For a deeper dive into conversations with Kristine and Joycelyn, tune in to their previous episodes on the eLABorate Topics podcast!

· Episode 7, “The Secret” featuring Joycelyn Jones

· Episode 11, “When Compassion Hurts; Hope for the 2nd Victim” featuring Kristine Talamante

· Episode 16, “The Power in Being an Essential Worker”

Returning Special Guest Bios:

Kristine Talamante is currently working as an Assistant Director of a Palliative Care team for a large hospital. Kristine is a strong advocate in Self-care, team morale and ensuring that staff feels safe. She has focused her passion on working with healthcare professionals and teams about compassion fatigue and burnout, moral distress, and most recently, Trauma Informed Care. Listeners can reach out to Kristine at [email protected].

Joycelyn Jones, MSHRM, PHR, SHRM-CP is a Certified Human Resource Professional with over 15 years of HR Management experience. She serves as an expert in consulting, executive coaching, employee relations, and conflict management with advanced knowledge of HR policies and employment laws. Listeners can reach out to Ms. Jones using Facebook at “Joyce Jones” or Instagram at “1ladyjones”. She also has a Facebook Group entitled “Virtuous Women”.

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

Be a Supporter! Listen on DirectImpactBroadCasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 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 connect with us on Direct Impact Broadcasting through Social Media.

How can contributing your unique competence increase the perceived value of the Medical Lab Profession?

In this episode of eLABorate Topics podcast, Lona Gordon Small, MBA, PMP, CPBPM, MT (ASCP) discuss the topic of perceived value of the Medical lab profession and the change that is possible. Even if your service has high potential value and your customers do not understand how you can help, then perceived value of your service by your customer could be low. Value is of course what your customer is willing to pay for.

Lona discussed the positive benefit of utilizing the LabOPEX 4C model she use in her training within her LabOPEX Growth Academy community. Medical lab professionals (MLP) with aspirations to contribute and make an impact in their careers and in healthcare at the highest levels use the LabOPEX 4C model.

The positive side effects for the LabOPEX 4C model is that the Medical lab profession on a whole will benefit through increased perceived value. This increased perceived value is important to how the Medical lab profession is seen by the public, our customers, and the salaries and caliber of new professionals we therefore attract.

LabOPEX 4C Model

1. Core

2. Commit

3. Contribution and Impact

4. Continuous Improvement

To reach Lona Small and learn more about this and other similar topics email her at [email protected]

On LinkedIn Lona Gordon Small

Listen to this episode and other episode on directimpactbroadcasting.com and your favorite podcast platform. Reach out to us at [email protected] to suggest topics you would like us to discuss or if you would like to be a guest on this podcast.

In this episode, co-host Tywauna Wilson interviews Medical Examiner Dr. Nicole Jackson. They dive in the topic of forensic pathology and the importance of self care for the medical laboratory team. 

Is it really like CSI or nah? Dr. Jackson gives more insight into the field of Forensic Pathology and why taking pauses out of your day helps you to be a better leader for yourself and for your patients. Curious to learn more about this side of the lab? This episode is for you! 

Guest Bio:
Nicole R. Jackson, MD, MPH is a graduate of Duke University and Tulane University’s Schools of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Jackson completed her anatomic and clinical pathology training at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and her forensic pathology fellowship training at the prestigious New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. She is currently an Assistant Medical Examiner for Cook County in Chicago, IL. Her interests include clinical and medico-legal autopsy, medical education, mentoring, community outreach, wellness, quality improvement, increasing the visibility of Forensic Pathologists as first responders to threats on our nation’s life expectancy, and using population-based data to reduce the number of preventable deaths.

Be a Supporter:

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform!

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!

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.

In this special behind the bench, Co-hosts Lona Small and Stephanie Whitehead, interview Tywauna Wilson about her journey to laboratory leadership and her impactful work in the Cincinnati/Dayton, OH communities. She discusses failing forward and the lessons she learned from early career failures to her proudest laboratory moment of training medical laboratory scientists in Rwanda, Africa. 

Key takeaways:

• Failure isn't final. It's a setup for a great comeback
• Great leaders make an impact
• It doesn't matter how you start but how you finish
• Tips for new managers.... ask questions and get to know each member of your team
• Define success for yourself
• Invest in your personal development... it's the best asset that you have
• With a degree in the field, you can do anything. You just have to be open and flexible with your career path

To connect with Tywauna 'Coach Tee Wilson'  for more strategies or join the monthly leadership roundtable, find her on LinkedIn at Tywauna Wilson, visit SomeLeadersWearLabCoats.com, or join the Tidbits w/Coach Tee Wilson Facebook group.

Be a Supporter! 

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

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

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.