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By Kristin Baird
It’s nearly Nurse’s Week, and I am loving all the inspiring and heart-warming articles and ads giving recognition to this most trusted profession. It’s great that once a year we put nurses in the limelight and celebrate their many contributions. But what would it look like if we all made a conscious effort to honor, support and celebrate nurses on a consistent basis? 5 Ways to Commemorate Nurses Week 1. When you see something, say something! Just like the TSA, when you see a nurse doing something that shows great technical skill, empathy or compassion – speak up and tell her or him that you are impressed. 2. Say thank you in real time. Make your gratitude prompt, personal and plentiful. 3. Talk them up. Tell their bosses that you are impressed and grateful. Give names and specific examples of the greatness you witness. Put it in writing. A quick note is all it takes. 4. Implement real and effective No Pass Zones where everyone answers call lights. Don’t just say you’re doing it – Make it happen with clear expectations and accountability. Most nurses are running their tails off during every moment of a shift. This is one small way that the organization can put some intentional support behind the nurses. There is so much emphasis on HCAHPS scores and much of the burden falls on nursing. This is one way the organization can prove the common sentiment that, “We’re all in this together.” 5. Make certain that staffing practices ensure regular breaks and lunches. Breaks, are pushed down the list of priorities on busy days. No one wants work tired and hungry with a full bladder. What I’ve listed here are seemingly small actions but have lasting benefits. We all want to feel appreciated and although the parties and celebrations are fun, let’s be sure we’re working on cultural norms that foster a supportive environment every day of the year. Happy Nurse’s Week to all my fellow nurses. I’m proud to be one of you! Looking for your Nurses Week healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success!
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By Laurie Guest
Does lack of consistency and low productivity impact your work environment? How? What tools have you tried to get back on track? During my days of managing others, there were three specific techniques I used to help people be more consistent and productive that are worthy of sharing. Weekly meetings with a notebook in hand Hallway management can get you in trouble fast. You’re walking down the hall, you see someone you manage, and you stop them with an instruction. They listen, nod, and then you both continue on your way. With no formal interaction, with no chance for the employee to document the new information, and with no paper trail to prove you even informed him or her of the information, it is likely the instruction is lost. Also, with this type of management, the only time employees get audience with you is when they knock first. Consider instead quick, formal, one-on-one meetings on a regular basis. The employee comes with a notebook or an electronic device for documentation. The bullet points of the meeting are written down, decisions made, dates and deadlines added, and then both people sign off on this document when the meeting is over. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s consistent. Figure out your MBAs Also known as your “making bank activities,” we all have tasks we do during the course of a day that make us feel productive but likely don’t lead to increased revenue or decreased expense, which are two things that lead to profit. One time, I made a list of all the things I’d already done during the day just so I could use my trusty highlighter to cross them off the list. What a waste of time that was! But it sure made me feel a sense of accomplishment. However, it wasn’t an activity that helped me make bank. Make a list of your daily activities that provide the best results to meet your goals. Put them in a priority order and then be consistent in attending to those things first. If you have support staff that will handle some of these things for you, you have time to concentrate on other things. Evaluate whether those other things that you’re doing are a good use of your time and whether they make you more productive. Adopt a one-pass system This concept comes from my medical office days. My doctor had a philosophy that directly impacted his level of success: using a one-pass system as much as possible. That means he would touch a file one time, complete everything that was necessary, and then pass it along to the next staff person who needed the file. He would not allow a stack of charts to sit in a pile, waiting on answers to questions. He felt that a lot of time was wasted shuffling papers around. I bought into the same philosophy in my office. When I’m self-disciplined enough to follow my own rules, it makes a huge difference. When the task comes in, take action on it immediately all the way to completion whenever possible. That means all the way to the cabinet and its proper resting folder. Touch it once. Finish, file, and put it to rest. If it needs further action, then properly document, set the ticket reminder and the system that works for you, and then store it where you can find it until the earliest possible time that you can resolve the task. It works like a dream even if you are not paper-based and everything is electronic. For more consistency and increased productivity in your workplace, initiate formal one-on-one meetings on a regular basis, concentrate on activities that lead to increased revenue and decreased expense, and adopt a one-pass system to complete tasks. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By John O'Leary. This was originally posted on JohnOLearyInspires.com. When John O'Leary was 9 years old, he suffered burns over 100% of his body and was expected to die. He is now an inspirational speaker and bestselling author, teaching more than 50,000 people around the world each year how to live inspired. John's first book, ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life was published March 15, 2016. John is a contributing writer for Huff Post and Parade.com. John is a proud husband and father of four and resides in St. Louis, MO. Order John’s book today anywhere books are sold.
“Read it again, Dad.” These are words James Williams heard every night for more than three months. And every night he heard them, his heart rejoiced. Those words filled him with delight because the request came from his little boy, James Jr. They moved him because after spending more than two decades of his life either in jail or doing things that would lead him back there, he was finally free to not only read, but to live. They stirred deep emotions because the story little James wanted read wasn’t a typical bedtime story, but a magazine article featuring the good work his daddy was doing. And this made James Williams Sr. emotional because this had not been the path he was on…and doing good work most certainly wasn’t what he’d been known for. New Ark Farms Provides a Second Chance James Williams was known as a “bad kid.” He was a defeated dropout, troublemaker, bum. He was a criminal, an inmate, unemployable, and on a path either back to jail or to an early death. He was, after all, a nobody. Then he heard about an opportunity. New Ark Farms was hiring. This business, started by an advertising executive and former attorney named Charles Rosen, had a large orchard about 90 minutes from James’ home in Newark, produced Ironbound Hard Cider, and provided transportation to and from work. This was a second chance. You see, more than just another microbrewery, New Ark Farms exists to treat people with dignity, repair the damage of the earth, and make a difference. Their very reason for existence is to create meaningful work, provide a living wage, and afford former criminals an opportunity at not just temporary employment, but transformative physical, emotional and financial healing. And the byproduct is delicious cider beer. James Williams Knows His Past Does Not Define Him More important than the delicious cider beer New Ark Farms produces is the impact it has on the workers it employs. Perhaps the real byproduct is a man returning home fulfilled after a long day at work. A man who embraces who he is. And knows who he was. Like the rings within a tree, James remembers being a bad kid, a defeated dropout, troublemaker, bum. James can recall his time as a criminal, an inmate, unemployable, and on a path either back to jail or to an early death. He was, after all, a nobody. But that’s no longer the fruit of James Williams’ life. Now he is a proud employee of New Ark Farms and is critical in their creation of Ironbound Hard Cider. Today he’s an expert tree grafter, he’s a crew chief, and he’s a farmer. He lives in the city, he works on a farm, he knows the joy of an honest day’s wage for an honest day’s work. He’s a dad. He’s a bedtime book reader. He’s a man who’s been defeated, and now feels redeemed. And James Williams Sr, without any doubt, is a somebody. Just ask his son. Today is your day. Live Inspired. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Donna Cardillo
National Nurses Week is the “official” time to shine a spotlight on nurses. But the truth is, we should be celebrating nurses and nursing every day throughout the year. So how can you get the ball rolling and start the party? Here are five ways: 1. Reflect on all that nursing has to offer. When you compare nursing to many other occupations, you’ll find that it offers good pay and benefits and a multitude of opportunities with a variety of work settings, specialties, and schedules. It even offers a growing number of opportunities for self-employment and advanced practice. I don’t know of any other profession that is more diverse. And the best part is that you have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others and contribute to the health and well-being of the planet. Where else can you use your heart and your head every day to have a positive impact? The grass sometimes looks greener in someone else’s yard, but the fact is that nursing is one of the hottest professions around. 2. Study nursing’s rich history and spread the word. Nurses have literally changed the face of healthcare for the better and continue to do so — some in very dramatic ways. If each of us were more aware of our history, we would feel so much more proud and empowered to be part of such an amazing group. Read books about nurses and nursing history such as “Nursing, The Finest Art: An Illustrated History” by Patricia Donohue. Visit the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame page and acquaint yourself with incredible nurses — past and present. Do an Internet search for ‘ANA Hall of Fame’ to find it. 3. Attend nursing awards ceremonies. These events, such as the annual Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek Nursing Excellence Awards, are a celebration of all that is good and positive about nursing. These events serve to shine a light on nurses who exemplify what nursing is all about and what it is possible to achieve. When one nurse is honored, the entire profession is honored. These events may be held at your place of employment, through your professional associations, through media outlets, etc. And be sure to nominate someone you know for an award! 4. Share nursing’s stories. We all have those touching, funny, heartbreaking, and unforgettable moments that each of us has experienced over the years. Get together with nursing friends and colleagues and ask everyone to share a story or relate a pivotal moment. We don’t often talk about the work we do but we all have stories to tell. There is power, validation, and energy in sharing experiences. Read and share “Tenderly Lift Me” by Jeanne Bryner – a unique combination of poetry, stories, and photos that honor and celebrate everyday nurses. 5. Spread the word about nursing. Participate in career days at high schools, colleges, middle schools, and scouting events. When you meet a great nurses aide or tech or someone considering a career change, ask them if they’ve considered nursing. Sometimes in talking about nursing, you realize how special the work you do is and how much others admire the profession. Refer interested parties to the Johnson & Johnson www.discovernursing.com Web site for information and inspiration. You can get free promotional materials there, too, to help get the word out. Browse the profiles yourself as another way to celebrate nursing. Don’t wait for National Nurses Week each year to celebrate nursing. Get the “party” going now and keep it going all year long. Looking for your Nurses Week speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Dan Coughlin
All my life I’ve interacted with Helpers. Helpers are those people who go out of their way to help other people achieve what they want to achieve. Helpers provide help by listening to other people share their concerns, frustrations, anger, hopes, and dreams. Helpers help by offering suggestions, and providing encouragement and sound advice. Helpers help by jumping in and getting actively involved in working shoulder-to-shoulder with other people. Helpers help by providing people with assistance in the form of introductions to other people. Helpers help by providing people with a loan to get started. When I was growing up I interacted with Helpers who were family members, teachers, coaches, Cub Scout leaders, adults in my neighborhood, and friends of mine. As an adult, when I was a high school teacher I saw many, many Helpers in action. They were my fellow teachers and administrators. These were people who dedicated the vast majority of their lives to helping other people. Over the past 20 years I’ve served as an Executive Coach for many executives and managers in businesses and not-for-profit organizations. The vast majority of these people are Helpers. They work long and hard to help other people achieve their desired outcomes. As a community volunteer, I’ve seen incredible adult, young adult, and teenage volunteers who were amazing Helpers for other people. They gave freely of their time, talent, and energy. Helpers Make a Huge Difference It’s been my observations that Helpers make a huge difference in the world. They help to make individuals, families, communities, organizations, and societies better. They are critically important to many different types of successes. Oftentimes when a person looks back on his or her life, he or she will recall a Helper who made an enormously positive difference on the road to him or her achieving something special. The person admires and appreciates the Helper in many different ways. The Big Problem Many Helpers Face On the road to helping so many other people, Helpers often develop one major problem. They stop allowing other people to help them. Helpers develop a very high degree of self-esteem based on helping other people. They get their sense of self-worth from helping others. That’s not the problem. The problem is they often start to feel that their sense of self-esteem will go down if they let other people help them. They build a wall of pride around the idea that they can help other people, but they don’t need help from anybody else. They believe they can go it alone and solve every problem in their life on their own. Or they develop a sense of shame if they ever ask someone else for help, as though it makes them a loser or a weak person. This big problem is not based on gender, height, race, size, or personality. I have seen this problem in young people and old people, men and women, and in people of all sizes, personalities, and races. You are Not Your Labels You are not your title, your income, the size of your house, your standing in your community, your friends’ perception of you, a Magnificent Mom, a Dependable Dad, or The Friend Everyone Can Count on for Positive Energy. Those are just labels. You are a human being. Consequently, at times you are going to get burned out, bummed out, frustrated, angry, or confused. It doesn’t matter how old you are, how big you are, or how tough you think you are. There will be times when you lose or get frustrated. You might lose money or your job or your kids’ respect. It doesn’t matter what your title is or how much money you have or how respected you are by other people. There will be times when you need help from other people. You might be frustrated by the kids you have or by not having kids. You might be frustrated by the job you have, or by not having a job. You might be frustrated that you are young, or you might be frustrated that you are old. How you handle those moments will greatly affect your life. In some cases, it will determine whether you can move forward in a healthy way, or fall into a very unhealthy state of mind. If you turn inward and isolate yourself from every other person, you can easily slide into an extremely negative emotion such as shame, jealousy, anxiety, depression, rage, hopelessness, or helplessness. If you try to always take on life by yourself, those negative emotions can become engrained within you. They can even reach a point of becoming irreversible. You might give up hope because you never let anyone truly help you. Let Other People Help You Please, please, please don’t try to take on life all by yourself. It is perfectly okay to turn to a person and say, “I need someone to listen to me. Do you have time today or tomorrow when I can talk with you?” If the person says no, then turn to someone else. Don’t act tough and think it’s shameful to ask for help. Turn to people with bigger titles and bigger incomes, and to people with smaller titles and smaller incomes. Turn to older people for help, and turn to younger people for help. Stop acting like you should have all the answers, and you can’t learn from somebody else. Stop thinking like you will look better in the eyes of other people by never admitting you need help from other people. Stop feeling that it’s shameful to ever admit you need help. Please, please, please stop doing that. Two Great Dangers Every Person Faces I think there are two great dangers every person faces. The first danger is to stop trying to help other people. You have talents and passions that can make a great difference in the lives of other people. Apply those talents and passions. You can make a huge difference in your family, community, organization, and society. Be willing to listen to other people. Be willing to let them yell or cry or shake their heads in frustration. Be willing to offer a suggestion. Be willing to work with people shoulder-to-shoulder. Be willing to help. The second danger is to stop trying to let other people help you. You are human. You can benefit greatly and in healthy ways by letting other people listen to you, and then considering their advice. It’s great to have self-confidence and to be courageous, but it’s foolish and dangerous to take on life all by yourself. Please, please, please avoid those two dangers. Be willing to be a Helper and a Helpee. Both roles are important to having a healthy and meaningful life. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Courtney Clark
Most of us don’t really like change, but some people are especially nervous when things are in transition. If one of your coworkers is change-resistant, but changes are imminent, you need to act fast to get everyone on board with change. Why Is This Happening? Here’s Why Have you ever had a rough day and found yourself wanting to shout at the universe “why is this happening to me?!?!” As humans, if we must be challenged, we want that challenge to at least have a purpose. I tell a story in one of my books, The Successful Struggle, about a woman who moves across the country after a divorce, to be closer to her family for help raising her child. The move is difficult, finding a new job is challenging, and getting everything settled in a new life is exhausting. The fuel that keeps her going is knowing all the difficulty has a reason, to have a better life for her daughter, and once she makes it through the transition things will ultimately be better. The #1 thing we can do to help our coworkers get on board with change is to help them understand the purpose of change. Why is this happening? What is the benefit to them? Are there more opportunities for a promotion as the company grows? When they understand what the ultimate payoff might be, they’re naturally more willing to navigate through change. Lean On Me Another thing you can do to help your colleagues navigate change is to facilitate connections among the staff. Studies show that employees who feel stronger connections to one another report being happier about change in the workplace. This strategy can be an easy option no matter where you fall on the workplace hierarchy, because building strong workplace relationships doesn’t need approval from a boss. Even actions as simple as eating lunch together, or talking about non-work activities in the breakroom, can foster feelings of connection. If you do have some decision-making power, activities like community volunteering can really solidify the sense of team connections. Remember: you don’t have to go off-site to volunteer – taking an extra-long lunch break one day and making cards for kids in the hospital works, too. The Pied Piper You can’t force your colleagues to get on board with change, but you can lay the groundwork to make change a lot easier to handle. If you have a colleague you know will struggle with change, make sure they understand the purpose behind then change. Then do whatever you can to build that person’s workplace bonds. Understanding “why” and having strong workplace connections make a measurable difference when it comes to navigating change with a good attitude. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Bobbe White
How do we hold ourselves back in life? Let me count the ways. I’ve been noodling on why and here’s a big one: We hold ourselves back when we believe people are judging and watching us. Consider this: people are thinking waaaaaaay less about us than we imagine. I test this theory whenever I work out at the gym or take a class. Most members are high school or college-age. There are a handful of mature athletes in the house. (I use both those terms loosely: mature, athlete.) Trust me people, they’re not watching us, critiquing us or caring one bit about our squats thrusts. If they give one second of thought to our presence, it might sound like this: What you HOPE they’re thinking about you: “Sure hope I can work out like that when I’m his/her age!” What they’re PROBABLY thinking (if anything): a. “Hope I never get THAT old!" b. “Don’t old people have their own gym and workout times?” c. “What old lady/man? Where?” As they step over you. I realized a long time ago that my presence is of very little concern to others in most situations. I’m okay with that fact. And you should be too. On the flip side, I enjoy observing them, when they don’t know it. No, not in a creepy way. Geesh. I’ve watched gangly, awkward boys come back more grownup after a summer or semester. I’ve seen young timid girls workout solo instead of having a twin-friend attached to the hip. Eventually, they become more comfortable in their own skin. I’m amused at the cajoling and berating they exchange and also receive from the trainers, who push them for more. Mostly, I attempt to absorb the raw energy that permeates the gym environment, when young people are present. Then again, maybe it’s the rap music that’s playing… If and when the gym sets hours by age group I will abide by that schedule. Until then, I intend to show up as it fits into my schedule and be perfectly comfortable. A few of us have already coined our workout times, should we be segregated, such as, “Old Fart Friday!” But, and this is a BIG but…what if I’m all wrong and the gym rats don’t like mature men or women sharing their weights and space? First of all, there’s enough space for everyone. Secondly, the kettle bells I use are ones you cast off years ago. Finally, like it or not, one day, you’ll be us. Bratty-looking emoji. Isn’t it refreshing to realize you’re NOT under anyone’s microscope but your own? Live your life in perspective. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By LeAnn Thieman. This was originally published on LeAnn's blog.
Hospitals will continue to feel financial constraints from the ongoing nursing shortage for the next three to four years, according to a new report. Labor comprises more than half of most hospitals’ operating revenue, and that share will continue to rise as turnover among nurses remains high and not enough new nurses enter the workforce, according to a report from Moody’s Investors Service. Providers will have to spend more to recruit qualified employees while the nursing shortage persists through 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rapidly aging population and need for chronic disease management will drive nursing demand. Rural providers will also be acutely impacted because they cannot match the compensation offered by urban hospitals and are not located close to nursing schools, Moody’s said. Hospitals’ average annual revenue growth of 5.7% between 2012 and 2016 exceeded salaries and benefits expense growth of 5.5%. But that did not include recruitment expense, which is higher in growing economies. Nurses are more willing to change jobs and providers must up the ante with better rates, bonuses and benefits to keep them on staff. Recruiting a nurse in the home health sector used to cost $1,500 to $2,000 and he or she would produce about $100,000 in revenue, netting about a 10% margin. But in today’s competitive landscape, recruitment costs are closer to $5,000 and nurses are spending less time at a job, which narrows margins. And Medicare and Medicaid are reducing reimbursement levels. To learn more about nursing recruitment and retention strategies, visit SelfCare for HealthCare™. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Kristin Baird
It’s no secret that an engaged workforce is necessary for a consistently positive patient experience. And nurses are pivotal in this equation. Nurses who develop resilience can prevent burnout. This allows them to engage with patients on a deeper level and thus, contribute to greater patient satisfaction. Resilience Resilience is defined as the ability to face adverse situations, remain focused, and continue to be optimistic for the future and is seen as a vital characteristic for today’s nurses. Lack of resilience places nurses are at risk for burnout, depression and job dissatisfaction. Leaders can help nurses to recognize the signs of burnout and support them in self-care. Formal education on the subject can be helpful, but even more useful is having one-on-one discussions with your nurses. Next time you make rounds on your nurses, instead of asking, “Do you have the tools you need to do your job?," ask them when the last time they had a break was. I’ve spent many shifts without food, water or bathroom breaks. I still see that among nurses on the inpatient units as well as outpatient areas. They’re putting patients first. Now it’s time for the leaders to address the nurses’ needs. You won’t know unless you ask. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Ron Culberson. With a master’s degree in social work, Ron Culberson spent the first part of his career working in a large hospice organization as a clinical social worker, middle manager, and senior leader. As a speaker, humorist, and author of "Do it Well. Make it Fun.The Key to Success in Life, Death, and Almost Everything in Between", he has delivered more than 1,000 presentations to associations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporations. His mission is to change the workplace culture so that organizations are more productive and staff are more content. He was also the 2012-2013 president of the National Speakers Association and is a recognized expert on the benefits of humor and laughter.
Each of us has unique skills that we can use in our life and work. Sometimes, however, it takes a while to figure out just what those skills are. Early in my career, I heard other speakers talk about how they customized every presentation they did. They would interview people, read organizational documents, and then adjust the content so that it tied their material into the theme of the meeting and the challenges for that particular audience. I’ve always admired people who can do that. In fact, I’m amazed that pastors can create an entirely new sermon every week. To them, I say, “Amen!” For a few years, I tried to customize my humor by writing specific material before each presentation. For instance, if I was speaking to a group of nurses in a large health care system, I would learn all I could about the system, I would read their internal newsletters, I would interview several members of the nursing staff, and then I would write specific humor based on the information I had gathered. But the humor typically fell flat and I got the sound of crickets rather than laughs. I finally realized the problem—I was trying to write inside humor as an outside humorist. Since I didn’t work within the organizations, I didn’t truly grasp the subtle idiosyncrasies that would have made the humor more relevant to the people who did work there. So, I had to figure out a way to use my humor skills differently. In other words, I had to customize the way I applied them. It turns out that I can see humor in the moment better than I can see humor before the moment. So, I took advantage of this skill and began to write funny lines while attending the conferences and meetings where I was speaking. For instance, I’ll go to the reception the night before my presentation. Or I’ll listen to the speaker who precedes me. And if I’m lucky, I’ll have the last presentation of the day and get to watch all of the speakers ahead of me. In each scenario, I’ll start my presentation with a few references to things that happened—and since the audience was there too, my comments are not only funnier, they’re more relevant to the listeners. This has made all the difference in the world because I am no longer guessing at how people experience their work. Instead, I I’m commenting on an experience that we all shared. Here are a couple of examples: Once, I spoke to a large audience of mostly women. On the first day of the conference, the emcee mentioned that because of the number of women at the event and the shortage of restrooms, the convention center had converted the closest men’s restroom to a women’s restroom. The men would need to go, so to speak, across the convention center to the only other available men’s restroom. When I was finally introduced, I ran onstage and pretended to be out of breath. I said, “Whew! I almost missed my introduction. You see, my cab from the men’s room was late.” The line got a great response because it brought to light something everyone had heard earlier in the day but then exaggerated the distance in a funny way. I think this made a much greater impact than something I could have written ahead of time because it was so relevant to that particular moment. One of my favorite in-the-moment lines occurred after I watched a speaker deliver a presentation on conflict management. Prior to his presentation, when his title slide was projected on the screen, he leaned over to me and said, “Oh, no, I just noticed I have a typo on my opening slide.” The slide looked like this: Conflict Management John Smith June 21,s 2010. So, there was an accidental “s” in the date. He simply laughed it off when he went onstage and gave a great presentation. During my part of the program, when I was referring back to his presentation, I said, “Well you probably noticed that John had a typo on his opening slide. He was actually quite unnerved by it. Just before he went onstage, he leaned over to me and said, “Does that comma make my ’S’ look big?” I could have dropped the mic at that point as the audience burst into laughter. Even John was laughing. And once again I was reminded that I’m much more effective when I focus my humor on the present moment. You see, there are many ways we can customize our gifts and skills for what we do. I believe it is this very uniqueness that makes us stand out in the crowd. So we need to find ways to tap into those qualities in both our work and personal lives. For example, if you are a natural salesperson, are you in a role where you can sell ideas or products? Or if you are great with people, are you in a role where you can use your people skills to organize or facilitate groups and teams? Or if you are a good writer, are you in a role where you can put your writing skills to work? Using our uniqueness doesn’t mean that we have to find a job where that’s all we do. It simply means that we should be on the lookout for ways to use our particular skills—rather than just doing what everyone else does. I’m not that good at pre-writing humor. And for a while, I thought I had to develop my material that way because that’s what others did. Luckily the absence of laughter suggested otherwise. That’s when I realized that if I customize my skills and use in-the-moment humor instead, I get more laughs and less crickets. And to that, I say, “Amen!” Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! |
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