Do you "like" the idea of office friendships crossing over into social media? More than seven in 10 professionals (71 percent) polled by staffing firm OfficeTeam said it's appropriate to connect with colleagues on Facebook. Slightly fewer feel it's okay to follow coworkers on Twitter (61 percent), Instagram (56 percent) and Snapchat (44 percent). In contrast, less than half of … [Read more...] about Should you ‘friend’ your coworkers on social media?
Your career
Do you have the ‘right stuff’ to be a successful medical office manager?
As the office manager of a medical practice, you have an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a valuable contribution. "You really get the chance to be a part of a small business and to wear a lot of different hats," says Mary Pat Whaley, co-founder and president of Manage My Practice, a medical practice consulting firm. What's more, because most physicians are not business … [Read more...] about Do you have the ‘right stuff’ to be a successful medical office manager?
7 reasons why physicians should join a professional organization
By Nick Hernandez bio There are plenty of healthcare professional organizations, but are the yearly dues worth it to join? As budgets get squeezed, many physicians and practice managers have been cutting back on the number of professional associations they belong to. Although there is often a lack of perceived benefit, membership in professional associations yields a … [Read more...] about 7 reasons why physicians should join a professional organization
Asking for a raise
One of the most frequently asked career questions is, "What is the best way to ask for a raise?" Not surprising, a frequently asked management question is, "What are best practices when it comes to employees asking for a raise?" Answers to these two questions actually have a lot of overlap. Think about the times staff members approached you for a raise. When did they make a … [Read more...] about Asking for a raise
Keep your job by learning ways to stay neutral
The job of managing a medical office can be unpredictable, because there's not the luxury of answering to just one boss. Instead, there are as many bosses as there are doctors, and the doctors don't always get along with one another. For that reason, survival rests on neutrality, says management consultant Donna R. Gary of Legal Administrative Services in Sacramento. The … [Read more...] about Keep your job by learning ways to stay neutral
5 things leaders can learn from stand-up comedians
By Andrew Tarvin bio As you can imagine, stand-up comedy can make you a better presenter. After all, it's one of the hardest forms of public speaking you'll ever do (aside from effectively teaching second graders), which means if you can do okay in stand-up, all other types of business presentations will seem easier. But stand-up comedy can also make you a better … [Read more...] about 5 things leaders can learn from stand-up comedians
Do you make this costly interviewing mistake?
Don't focus a job interview on whether the candidate can do the job. The purpose of an interview is not to evaluate hard skills or job experience or training. Anybody who makes it to the interview already meets the requirements. Look instead for the behaviors of the person. The interview is the time to find out the motivators, the personality, and the soft skills of self … [Read more...] about Do you make this costly interviewing mistake?
7 ways to modernize business writing mechanics
By Cheryl Toth, MBA bio You don't need a degree in English to write professional-looking business documents. Here are seven things that add polish to business writing prose. 1. Use standard business fonts. I'm all about creativity. But don't get creative when it comes to business fonts. Stick to Arial or Times New Roman. If the organization you're writing to or for … [Read more...] about 7 ways to modernize business writing mechanics
12 signs you are about to lose your job
Call it denial. Call it turning a blind eye to what’s going on. But even the most business-savvy manager can fail to see when the job is in jeopardy. People think it will happen to everyone else but not to themselves. Managers might be observing negative goings-on in their medical offices without cluing in that their jobs are on the line. The only way to stay safe is to … [Read more...] about 12 signs you are about to lose your job
4 ways you are apologizing wrong
By Stacey Hanke bio Apologies are something we love to receive and hate to give. And especially as a leader, they are tough. They require a great deal of humility, which challenge your pride and ego. They are an open admission of failure and wrongdoing, but when delivered with sincerity, they hold power with your team. Unfortunately, too many leaders give superficial … [Read more...] about 4 ways you are apologizing wrong