In a 10-year study, involving hundreds of interactive creative problem-solving sessions, business strategist and innovation coach Matthew E. May gave over 100,000 professionals a thought challenge far less complex than their routine business problems. Results? Not only did less than 5 percent arrive at the best and most elegant solution, but the solutions given were … [Read more...] about Do you have ‘fatal’ thinking flaws?
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Old policies can be worse than no policies
By Steve M. Cohen bio Office managers have a great deal of work that is unexciting at best. Topping this list may be updating policies. But with recent court rulings, new regulations, and other changes, it's more than likely that your policies need a bit of updating. It's a mistake to assume that you can "just get by." One error that many make is confusing "policy" … [Read more...] about Old policies can be worse than no policies
More than half of workers more committed to personal life
Work-life balance may become a reality, if workers have anything to say about it. According to research from staffing firm Robert Half, 54 percent of professionals have increased their commitment to their personal life over the last year. Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed say they are more committed to their career, and 34 percent cite additional dedication to their … [Read more...] about More than half of workers more committed to personal life
Travel and weight loss take priority over retirement savings
Nine in 10 working Americans believe they should be investing for retirement, but only three quarters (75 percent) are taking any action, with many prioritizing other goals, like weight loss and travel, over increasing their retirement savings, according to the 2016 Financial Freedom Survey from brokerage firm Capital One Investing. The annual study, which measures current … [Read more...] about Travel and weight loss take priority over retirement savings
This year’s unused sick days become next year’s personal days
Experience is often a manager's best education. Such is the case for a two-physician, six-staff orthopedic surgery practice in Rhode Island. The manager, who has been with the office for 20 years, has found that the best way to prevent the last-minute sick calls is to allow staff to carry their sick days over to the next year. But instead of transferring as sick days, the time … [Read more...] about This year’s unused sick days become next year’s personal days
Your biggest job? Motivating your staff
By Steve M. Cohen bio There are a lot of tough jobs associated with managing a medical office. One of the most difficult is motivating your staff and keeping them motivated. This area is difficult for several reasons. It's intangible—you can't always see the results, at least not immediately. What works for one person often won't work for another. Worst of all, it's … [Read more...] about Your biggest job? Motivating your staff
Research assesses health care costs and utilization
The Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI), which promotes independent, nonpartisan research and analysis on the causes of the rise in U.S. health spending, has released a set of six policy briefs assessing the impact of a range of national and state policies on health care costs and utilization. The briefs were developed by independent researchers using HCCI's repository of … [Read more...] about Research assesses health care costs and utilization
Make your job easier by delegating more
To be an effective manager, learn the art of letting go. Learn how to delegate. Without delegation, any manager ends up doing everybody else's job and drowning in the work. But just as bad, staff never grow beyond the basics of their jobs. They never develop a sense of pride in their work, and they never experience a challenge. All they can do is become passive clones. Good … [Read more...] about Make your job easier by delegating more
Cybersecurity and social media top compliance concerns
Cybersecurity is a top compliance concern according to a survey of compliance professionals conducted by Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) and the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). In January 2016, HCCA and SCCE surveyed 900 individuals, suggesting 38 potential compliance issues and asking them to pick no more than 10 in answer to the question: "What … [Read more...] about Cybersecurity and social media top compliance concerns
Diversity in the workplace improving, but gaps remain
Recent research offers a lens into the drivers, limitations, and tactics of workplace diversity and inclusion. A survey from XpertHR, a leading resource for HR professionals, findings that companies of all sizes demonstrate progress, yet continue to face challenges with the diversity of their workforces. XpertHR's Diversity in the Workplace Survey of more than 600 companies, … [Read more...] about Diversity in the workplace improving, but gaps remain