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Numerous studies have shown that Americans get much of their information about health care from the media. Likewise, what they see and hear in the media, whether a TV drama or a print news story, influences how they perceive nurses and the work we do.
And yet, nurses have historically shied away from the media. Some of us think reporters dig for dirt only when something goes wrong. Others are so accustomed to deferring to physicians or administrators that we forget we’re health care experts in our own right. And many of us feel intimidated by media representatives and don’t know how to talk to or work with them. So we avoid the media and often don’t consider opportunities to demonstrate our knowledge, promote health and wellness, support nursing’s agenda, and gain visibility and credibility. The media are powerful institutions, and positive media attention is key to elevating our image. It can promote a more accurate understanding of what nurses really do and help recruit others to the profession. It also influences legislators and administrators when they’re allocating money and resources for nurses. Here are some key ways to harness the power of the media. At Work If you’re a department manager, make contact with the marketing and public relations person in your facility. Make sure he or she knows about the unique work your department does and about any special projects or programs your team is involved in. These might include a mentoring program, a research project you’ve completed, or an innovation on your unit. Make sure the PR person knows that nurses are experts, too, and as such should be referred to as sources for the media. And since the media loves tie-ins with special occasions and events, National Nurses Week and nursing specialty weeks are good times to seek publicity. If you’re not a manager, encourage yours to make that connection or volunteer to be the PR liaison for your department. If you or someone in your department wins an award, is named an officer in a professional association, or receives special recognition from a community or civic group, make sure the marketing department knows about it. When one nurse is honored and spotlighted, the entire profession benefits. Encourage your facility’s PR people to pitch stories to the media about nursing. Nursing is a particularly hot topic right now with the widely publicized shortage. Positive publicity about nursing is great marketing for your facility, is a good recruiting tool, and helps promote a more accurate image of nursing. Through Professional Associations Get on a marketing or public relations committee. This is a wonderful way to learn more about the world of media relations and develop important contacts. Organize a media panel for a conference or meeting. This is not only a great way to learn more about how the media works, but also a great opportunity for the media to learn about nursing — who we are, what we do, and what we know. Bring in a speaker or consultant who offers media training. Then, the next time you have the chance to appear on TV or radio or be interviewed by a journalist, you’ll know what to do. Some associations have developed media training kits to assist members in working with the media. Most professional associations, at both the national and local chapter level, have a member resource list available for the media. Offer to become a topic expert for your professional association. On Your Own Pitch stories or submit articles to mainstream media about nursing and health care topics or capitalize on current events. When popular actor John Ritter died years ago, one nurse did some research and wrote an article about aortic dissection in layman’s terms so the public could understand what he died from. The article was published in a local newspaper with the nurse’s name as the author. Write letters to the editor or author of articles in newspapers, web sites, and magazines to comment on health-related articles. Thank them when they write accurate stories about nursing and correct them when they don’t. Admittedly, the media is intimidating to most of us. But by taking steps toward becoming more media savvy, every nurse can learn to harness the power of the press for the good of the profession.
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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.
One of the things that really gets under my skin is when someone “shoulds” on me. You know what I mean, right? It’s when you’re talking with someone and they say, “Oh, you should do this,” or “You should do that.” We’re all guilty of “shoulding” on others but there are two obvious problems that can arise from it. First, when a suggestion is made in the form of a “should” statement, it insinuates that the “shoulder” knows what’s best for the “shouldee” and that the “shoulder” has the right to tell the “shouldee” what to do. Second, the process can cause the “shouldee” to make guilt-driven comparisons where the “shouldee” becomes more concerned with what others think than feeling confident in their own motives and behaviors. This comparison process is what’s sometimes called, “Keeping up with the Joneses.” It is a never-ending-hamster-wheel exercise to nowhere and what’s worse, we may ultimately discover that we’ve been trying to keep up with the wrong Joneses. When I first became a professional speaker—meaning when I got money for talking—I received a lot of advice from more experienced speakers. I was told, “You should raise your fee,” and “You should offer at least a dozen topics,” and “You should never negotiate your fee,” and “You should always put your picture on your business card.” Whenever I heard these things, I questioned my motives and started comparing myself to other speakers. I thought, Maybe I’m undervaluing my presentations. Maybe the few topics I offer are limiting my opportunities. Maybe I should never work for less than my full fee. And, maybe I should not only have my photo on my business card, but I should put it on both sides. But you know what? None of these strategies worked for me. When I raised my fee too much, my calendar was empty. When I tried to focus on too many topics, I diluted all of them. And when I wasn’t flexible with my fee, I didn’t get to work with the clients I actually liked. However, when it came to my business card, I never considered putting my photo on either side because I feared that my striking good looks would lead to more work than I could handle. You see, the Joneses I was trying to keep up with were not the Joneses I wanted to be. Those Joneses were more interested in pursuing the CEOs of Fortune 100 companies while I wanted to work with the directors of social services agencies. They stayed at the Ritz while I was perfectly happy at the Courtyard. And they drove sports cars with all the amenities while I drove a Subaru with all-wheel drive. The allure of their success was seductive but after a few years, I realized that this path was not a good fit for me—and that I was trying to keep up with the wrong Joneses. Once I understood this, I adjusted my model so that my business goals and my personal interests were in alignment. Interestingly, this led to greater success in both. I discovered a similar pattern with my professional development process. Early in my career, I attended a lot of educational conferences while also reading all the popular books on business and personal development. Because, that is what entrepreneurs were supposed to do. After a while, I realized that I was hearing the same messages presented over and over—they were just labeled differently. The Seven Steps became the Four Cornerstones which became the Five Easy Pieces. Same principles, different titles. After a while, I stopped attending so many conferences and eliminated most business and self-improvement books from my reading list. Now, I attend a conference once in a while and the books I like to read are often autobiographies or they focus on mindfulness and cooking. So, rather than learning the seven steps to success from a famous CEO, I try to discern life and business lessons from meditation experts, rock stars, comedians, and chefs. I find that these books are more interesting to read and the lessons are just as valuable. So, do I think you ought to do what I did? Absolutely not. But what you “should” do (couldn’t resist) is to consider if the Joneses you’re trying to keep up with are the right ones for you. Do you feel pressure to meet the expectations of others? Are the people who expect things of you the kind of people you aspire to be? Is there a part of you that feels unexplored or unexpressed? Is there a gap between where you are and where you want to be? If so, maybe you’ve gotten caught up in a comparison cycle trying to keep up with the wrong Joneses. One way we can all explore this a bit more is to think about those people who share our values, our interests, and our aspirations. We can pay attention to how they approach life and work, and rather than compare our own life to theirs, consider how their underlying principles might apply to us. I’ve seen so many so-called successful people who are not that happy and have actually damaged important personal relationships on their way to success. When we do this, we may find short-term, materialistic success but ultimately end up with long-term discontent. Maybe, you aspire to be a Bill Gates, a Serena Williams, a Jimmy Carter, or a Mother Theresa. Whoever you aspire to be, make sure you’re following their example—for the right reasons. Not because you should, but because it aligns with who you are. Then, perhaps, you’re be keeping up with the right Joneses. Planning your next event? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to schedule your ideal speaker and make your event a success! By Laurie Guest
As a lifelong lover of board games, a statement in a recent report by Forrester® research really grabbed my attention. It said: “Companies have gone from a whack-a-mole approach to playing a very different game in order to advance their customer service.” I was intrigued. What is this new game and how do you play it? But here’s the thing—they never said—so I am left to ponder it with you. In the article, marketing efforts were compared to a whack-a-mole game because a majority of CMOs focus on fixing fundamental problems as they pop up, often in their back-end systems and processes. However, times they are a changin’, and so must the game. Replacing a reactive response with a proactive approach will lead to a long-term win. Think chess. Bobby Fischer, the most accomplished of chess grandmasters, had the ability to see five or six moves in front of his opponents. With that view, he could strategize his choices and, at the same time, respond when a move was made that he didn’t anticipate. Remember: responding is different than reacting. When you react, you create a disjointed customer experience. Forrester said, “Disjointed experiences cost millions and lose customers—they are the antithesis of customer obsession.” To me, that is the best rationale for learning to play this new game today to attract and retain new customers. Your objective should be to put the customer at the center of everything you do. It should have been the priority all along, but we’ve not always experienced that. For example, a customer-centered approach would include things like flexibility in changing travel reservations without penalty or getting a refund on theater tickets with enough advanced notice. Instead, the policies of the past are focused on keeping hold of all committed dollars, no matter what. Let’s take a look at three moves that are smart strategy in a post-pandemic marketplace. Checkmate Your Rewards programs It is predicted that spending on retention marketing will increase by 30% in 2021. To meet this demand, it makes sense to adjust from frequency-based rewards to a highly developed loyalty program. By creating a reward program that is so desirable it “leaves your buyer with no choice” but to get involved, you’ve checkmated them. A great example of this is my regional grocery store. They offer a free perks card for their Fuel Saver® program. With that card, I can take advantage of discounts on certain items and get points in the form of cents, which accumulate over a rolling 30-day period. This leads to big savings on the gas I purchase at the same chain. It’s not uncommon for us to fill up the tank for free! Recently, they added plan for those 55-plus that offers a 5% discount off our entire order if we shop on Mondays. Combine these two offers with product coupons and we have no choice but to be loyal to that store. How could they take this one step further and keep me even happier? Add more cashiers during peak hours. Oddly enough, the senior discount cannot be applied in the self-checkout lanes, so having only one cashier on Monday is not acceptable. What does a refreshed rewards program look like in your organization? Find a Grandmaster Move The highest title a chess player can attain is that of Grandmaster, a level that only about 3% of all registered players hold. Although I don’t know what it takes to become a grandmaster, we can assume it is detailed, difficult, and comes by setting oneself apart from the competition. We all need to think about that in our businesses. I’m always on the lookout for professionals who do something that is different than others in their field, and last month I encountered a new one. Professional photographer John DeMato was brought to my attention by a colleague who could not stop talking about this amazing person. I’ve met a lot of photographers over my career and, while happy with the final product each time, the process of doing business with each was very similar and predictable. However, last month I found myself onstage at a once-in-a-lifetime special event, and I didn’t think to line up a photographer in advance. John was in attendance and took all kinds of photos of those onstage, but I had not formally engaged with him yet nor did I ask him to photograph me. A few days after the event, I received an email from him that included 30 amazing pictures (that’s right three-oh) from that night. Not only was there no watermark (an industry standard) but he encouraged me to use as many of them as I could with his compliments. He did not ask me to become a client. He did not send me a sales lead letter. He did not take any action at all except to pick up the phone when I called to thank him. Will I hire him for my next photoshoot? Without a doubt. He has positioned himself as the Grandmaster by having an amazing product, extensive recommendations from colleagues I trust, a unique approach to his craft, and a giving spirit that I have not encountered before. Well played. Can you develop a creative move that sets you apart from your competition? Avoid the Zugzwang at All Costs A zugzwang is a German word that, in chess, means “it is your move and all options are bad.” Literally translated, the word means “compulsion to move.” In a business situation, it means that all the policies and procedures you put in place have left your customer with no great options. Case in point, my 20-year-old kid is a fan of anime (Japanese animation) and annually attends one of the largest industry conventions called Anime Central, hosted in Chicago. A group of friends purchased tickets for the 2020 show, which of course had to cancel due to the pandemic. Several months later, an email was sent out to all ticket holders announcing they were also skipping 2021 and now ticket holders had only two options, use the ticket for the 2022 show or buy merchandise. Neither of these options are good if one can’t go on the new dates. Basically, it’s a “use it or lose it” situation. Short of a full refund, what could be done to make this feel better for the buyer? What about a show credit to use in any future year, not just 2022? How about a limited-edition item made exclusively for this reason and only available to those with a bumped ticket? Or maybe it’s an item that’s low cost to the association and high value to the customer—and comes with a free pass to a future convention. The ideas are endless and not always expensive. What creative idea can you use to bump old rules that result in a happier loyal buyer? Every time I research and write an article about my passion of customer service, I return to the same conclusion: service is simple if we just stop and do the work. If we could put ourselves in the shoes of the buyer and really pause to think about how we can deliver the right experience consistently, the results would be amazing. In fact, it would be a game changer. Planning your next event? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to schedule your ideal speaker and make your event a success! By Amy Dee
For the most part, multitasking just doesn’t work, but a lot of us still believe it makes us more efficient. I doesn’t work because we can’t do two or three things at the same time. Instead, our brains switch from task to another losing focus over and over again. This is a problem because we have limited supply of attention each day. So every time we switch tasks, we lose a little bit of our power to focus that day. Multitasking is terrible for business. Studies have shown it decreases productivity by as much as 40%. Multitasking lowers your IQ by as much as 15 points...which is basically the same effect as not sleeping the night before. It kills creativity. Because you are never focused long enough to be creative. It really increases stress to the point we can hate our jobs. Still, I catch myself multitasking. Lately I’ve had lots to do…and have felt so frazzled. So, for one week I consciously stopped multitaskingI focused on only one thing at a time. Only write for 20 minutes...take a break. Only read for 20 minutes. And guess what? I got a lot more done. When cooking, I only cook. I paid attention to the colors, textures and the taste of the food…and cooking was more fun! My productivity is better than ever, I am less stressed and feel happier. So if you are a multitasker like me…and you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed and anxious. Considering taking just one day to stop multitasking and focus on one task at a time. And I betting you’ll feel better too. Planning your next event? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to schedule your ideal speaker and make your 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.
I used to be a huge procrastinator. Not just a motto, but a way of life, I believed “Why do today what can be accomplished tomorrow?” Working as a hospital chaplain in my 20s, however, woke me up to be far more intentional in savoring the profound gift of each day as well as celebrating the wonder of simply being alive. John O’Leary shares what it is like to be a hospital chaplain. One experience especially stands out. It was late in the evening, and I was on call. A patient was brought into the hospital after suffering a heart attack. The frantic pace of the staff gave every indication the situation was dire. As the patient’s family arrived, I ushered them into a private room near the Emergency Department. The role of the chaplain in these situations is to sit with the family, serve as a conduit to the staff, and offer any emotional, physical or spiritual support to alleviate the agonizing tension of waiting. For family, the unknown and sense of total helplessness is the hardest part of the waiting. On this evening, in spite of the best efforts of our medical staff, there was nothing they could do to revive the gentleman. After exhaustive work, a doctor came into the packed room, explained what had happened, and shared with the family that their loved one had passed away. Shouts of anger and heartache filled the room: “I can’t believe he’s gone!” “Couldn’t you have done more?!” “I thought we’d have so much more time together.” “It’s too soon.” “He was healthy and vibrant.” “He wasn’t ready to go.” “No! This is just not right. This isn’t fair.” Even though I didn’t personally know the patient or his family, in their cries of despair, I ached with them. The life lesson John O’Leary learned while serving as a hospital chaplain. What I remembered most about that evening, though, was not the heartbreak or the grief. Tragically, as a chaplain at a world-class trauma center, it is common to be with families when they learn of a loved one’s death. It’s always heartbreaking. And frequency doesn’t make it easier. No, the reason I remember that evening, that family, and their grief so vividly is because, for the first time, I saw that regardless of age or circumstance, the loss of a loved one is always shocking. The man who died that evening was 86 years old. Although he’d lived close to a century, no one expected him to pass away, no one imagined he’d get sick, no one fathomed he would not be there tomorrow. Few of us ponder honestly the profound fragility and beauty of life at any age. Several thousand years ago the author of Psalms reminded us: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” The goal of life isn’t to number the days to keep score, but in order to live them passionately, faithfully, intentionally, and lovingly. Since that evening spent with a wonderful family mourning the painful passing of their patriarch, I’ve tried to focus on numbering my days. This attention reminds me daily what matters and what doesn’t. It informs what I say yes to and what I say no to. It reminds me that the time with my parents is fleeting, my role as a parent to little ones is ephemeral and the time with my wife a sacred gift. Counting your days will make you live more intentionally. My friends, knowing that tomorrow isn’t promised should not scare us. Instead, it should give us conviction to be far more intentional in living vibrantly now. Today, choose to number your days. Rejoice in what you have and those gathered around you. And in the midst of the anxiety, difficulty and unknowns of this day, remain confident that this day remains a gift and even better days are yet to come. This is your day. Live Inspired. Planning your next event? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to schedule your ideal speaker and make your event a success! By LeAnn Thieman. This was originally published on LeAnn's blog.
A unique twist on positive thinking was taken from the Roman Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca (just Seneca to his friends.) He was a busy guy born in the year 4 BC He was not only a philosopher, but a tutor, statesman, dramatist, humorist and an advisor to Emperor Nero. His unusual twist on positive thinking suggested that occasionally we try not to focus on the best case scenario, but the worst. Seneca advised, for example, that if you feared losing your wealth you should, “Set aside a certain number of days during which you shall be content with the scantiest and cheapest fare, with course and rough dress, saying to yourself all the while, ‘Is this the condition I feared?’” Do you suppose after that he said, “Well, this isn’t so bad!” One person, following Seneca’s advice, recently admitted that her greatest fear was to feel embarrassed. So she went to every table at a busy restaurant and said, “Hello” to every person there. Her overblown fears were cut down to size. No one shouted at her or attacked her; she just got a few strange looks. I realize I use this tactic too. In stressful or fearful situations I sometimes ask myself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” When I think that through, I often surmise, “Well, I could handle that.” Do you have a worst fear? Try this technique to help you to overcome it. Maybe you won’t wear a rough course dress and talk to people in a crowded restaurant, but what worse case scenario can you imagine…and handle? Planning your next event? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to schedule your ideal speaker and make your event a success! By Mary Kelly
It is normal for many people to doubt themselves. If you have feelings of self-doubt, you’re in good company. Doubting yourself creates a host of unfavorable scenarios and prevents you from reaching your full potential. It holds you back. Many opportunities may pass you by because you feel as though you don’t deserve them, you are not qualified enough, or that you’re lacking in some way. Self-doubt is especially prevalent in the presence of peers. It’s easy for others on your level academically or professionally to challenge your self-belief – just by being there! You might feel like they’re ahead of you, even though you’re on the same level. It’s important to realize that you’re just as deserving as anybody else. Stop comparing yourself to others. Keep these concepts in mind to help you feel confident when trying to persuade others:
As my friend Jess Pettitt says, “you are good enough now”. Seize your well-earned confidence and move forward to your next challenge. Planning your next event? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to schedule your ideal speaker and make your event a success! By Kristin Baird
Over the course of my career, I’ve been on both the sending and receiving sides of feedback. I’ve come to know that continuous improvement requires that you be able to do both well. Training, preparation, and practice are all essential in building feedback skills. Many leaders seek skill development in delivering feedback. They also benefit by preparing for various reactions to their feedback. Our firm does a lot of training and development for various groups ranging from front line associates to physicians and executives. We frequently work with leaders on how to give feedback. Giving effective feedback requires clarity, respect, and emotionalintelligence. This will ensure key points are communicated and received effectively. How do you react when you are on the receiving end of feedback? MANY PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO GIVE FEEDBACK, BUT FEW ARE TAUGHT SKILLS TO RESPOND TO FEEDBACK GRACIOUSLY. HOW YOU RESPOND CAN BE A MATTER OF INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITY AND EXPERIENCE. It seems there is little training and supporting in helping people to RECEIVE feedback. My observations show more focus is given to the sender and little, if any, to the receiver. Working on one without the other can set you up for failure. Why? Because if the recipient hears feedback as criticism, the result will be defensiveness, anger or hurt feelings. This is not effective feedback. But if the receiver hears feedback as helpful information, the result can be motivational and clarifying. TO BUILD A CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, YOU NEED TO HELP PEOPLE GIVE AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK. When individuals within an organization reach emotional intelligence to receive feedback graciously, and see it as an opportunity to improve, it will elevate the entire team. This is key to effective feedback. Getting to that point takes conscious effort. If we spend as much effort helping people learn to receive feedback as we do in giving it then we will make advancements much more quickly. Creating a culture of continuous improvement means becoming one where everyone takes ownership for the good of the organization. A culture where everyone holds themselves and others accountable for effective feedback. Planning your next event? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to schedule your ideal speaker and make your event a success! |
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