By Abby Curnow-Chavez bio With Mother's Day just behind us, I've been thinking about the connection between motherhood and my other "job" – not the one of mom to teenage boys, but my work as a leadership consultant and executive coach. As parents, we are "leading leaders" and just like leaders in business, shifting from parenting to "leading leaders" requires an … [Read more...] about Being a great leader by applying what I’ve learned as a mother
Your career
4 ways to keep your cool in the midst of chaos
By Cheryl Toth How well do you think you handle stress at work? I used to think I was pretty good at it, until a few years ago, when I realized I wasn't. I was working for a healthcare technology company that was young and rapidly growing. Every day, my task and responsibility list seemed to grow exponentially. At first it was exciting, but after a while I was buried under a … [Read more...] about 4 ways to keep your cool in the midst of chaos
4 tricks to surviving and thriving in a highly political office
A medical office is filled with many different personalities and many different dynamics. And with those differences come office politics. And with the politics the manager can become a casualty. Here are the solutions to five situations where politics and personalities come into play. They are outlined by Margaret Hintz, SPHR, manager of HR services for Insperity, an … [Read more...] about 4 tricks to surviving and thriving in a highly political office
Why you need to stop talking to start leading
By Rebecca Teasdale bio Recently, a colleague and I were at a dinner function with a group of leaders from a client company. We found ourselves seated at a table with a new member of the executive team who we were meeting for the first time. Waiting for the plated meals to arrive, we eased into the conversation with small talk about sports and weather and then we … [Read more...] about Why you need to stop talking to start leading
Cheap management tricks that really work
By Dr. Steve M. Cohen Sometimes office management is more a matter of quickly throwing out a good answer rather than some profound strategy or statement. I'm not trying to minimize the organization and old-fashioned brainpower that goes into managing an organization. If you've read many of my blogs, you know that I view your job as challenging and often frustrating. It's … [Read more...] about Cheap management tricks that really work
What makes a successful practice manager
By Shane Carter bio Being a practice manager in today's health care environment is a very tough job. Disruptive and transformational change is underway in health care delivery. The modernization of health care has created a complex, changing environment that requires a successful practice to employ technology, advanced systems, and an educated and dedicated staff. Because … [Read more...] about What makes a successful practice manager
12 common errors in English you’ll want to avoid
Writing errors reflect poorly on you—and on the medical practice. Even if English wasn't your best subject, it's not too late to brush up on the basics. Here are 12 common errors you'll want to avoid. 1. You're/your You're is a contraction, short for "you are." Your is a possessive pronoun, as in "It's your birthday." Quick check: Can you substitute "you are"? If so, … [Read more...] about 12 common errors in English you’ll want to avoid
Are 5 common, but undiscussable, workplace behaviors putting your patients at risk?
A new study by VitalSmarts suggests that slackers, timid supervisors, toxic peers, and arrogant doctors are common in healthcare. But, while frustrating, these behavior problems aren't the real problem. The real problem in healthcare is silence. VitalSmarts’ study of workplace drama in healthcare found that while most employees and physicians frequently witness these … [Read more...] about Are 5 common, but undiscussable, workplace behaviors putting your patients at risk?
Set aside two hours for staff and keep interruptions in check
Some of the most annoying problems are often solved with the simplest of solutions. Such was the case at an internal medicine practice in Macon, GA. The practice has eight physicians and nearly 75 staff, but only one administrator dealing with constant interruptions that made getting her work done difficult. Most of the interruptions were from staff with small, but necessary, … [Read more...] about Set aside two hours for staff and keep interruptions in check
Communication dos and don’ts
Managers still spend a great deal of time communicating face to face, despite the proliferation of technology. However, because of technology, verbal communication skills sometimes take a backseat to written communication skills. Nevertheless, how you say something can be as important as what you say. With this in mind, here are communication dos and don'ts. Do Make sure … [Read more...] about Communication dos and don’ts