A few weeks ago, we welcomed another marketing and communications team to the 'family.' While the reasons and rationale for making the reporting relationship change were clear to those making the decision, I never want to assume that reasons and rationale are clear to everyone. So, instead of assuming, we tried to make sure we shared the reasons in an up close and personal manner with all involved -- giving everyone the opportunity to ask questions. This process reminded me that we need to make sure that everyone knows the 'question-asking opportunity door' is never closed. Whether it is a big change, a small change or something that makes you go "I wonder....", please ask. I commit to answering -- whether the answer is easy for me to give immediately, falls into the bucket of "Let me find out" or into that even more difficult bucket of "I know, but can't share the information with you at this time."
As a working leader of what is now a pretty large organization, 'open time' to have an open door policy is sometimes difficult to manage. I am not whining -- we all work really hard and have a lot of pushes and pulls on our time. All of us juggle a lot of projects with numerous demands from clients -- me included. Because of this juggling act, finding the time to ask about things you might be wondering is often difficult to find. And, sometimes getting the answer (when the question is asked of me) might take longer than I hope. BUT, getting an answer back to you shouldn't take forever. If it seems like it is taking forever, please re-ask -- especially if the questions was asked via e-mail (pc gremlins invade at times) or face-to-face while in a meeting on another topic (aging brain overload invades at times). I want you to have the answers you seek. First, because if you are wondering something, it is quite possible other team members are wondering as well. And, second because once you have the answer, you don't have to wonder anymore and can use that brain space for other stuff!
Because it is December 16, this may be my last blogged thought of the 2011, so I want to wish everyone a wonderful season of whatever holiday you celebrate (Festivus anyone?) and a safe and peaceful New Year. I feel very fortunate to work for BJC which allows me to work with all of you.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
11-11-11 Thanks
It was great to have so many join the festivities on the afternoon of 11-11-11. Pin-Up Bowl proved to be a great reminder of why we all keep our day jobs. Congratulations to the following staff members who had some pretty incredible scores. Check the mail in the coming days for a small token of congratulations.
Individual High Score -- Jason Vander Weele with a whooping 136
Individual Low Score -- Patty Johnson with a whooping 55
Highest Team Average -- Patt Christie, Emily Barklage & Bill Bergholtz with a whooping 105.3
Coolest Individual Scores -- Valerie Hoven, Steve Klutho (and me!) with a whooping 111(so fitting for the day).
It seemed that a good time was had by all (whether bowling, eating, talking or observing) who attended and I am hopeful that those who were not able to attend enjoyed Jeans Day.
J
Individual High Score -- Jason Vander Weele with a whooping 136
Individual Low Score -- Patty Johnson with a whooping 55
Highest Team Average -- Patt Christie, Emily Barklage & Bill Bergholtz with a whooping 105.3
Coolest Individual Scores -- Valerie Hoven, Steve Klutho (and me!) with a whooping 111(so fitting for the day).
It seemed that a good time was had by all (whether bowling, eating, talking or observing) who attended and I am hopeful that those who were not able to attend enjoyed Jeans Day.
J
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Getting Ready for Next Steps
Yesterday, our branding consultant participated in a roundtable with Corporate Communications and Marketing staff members who accepted the open invitiation to come and spend an hour and a half discussing the branding strategy we have been executing since late 2009 (time flies). We talked about the good, the challenging and the opportunities that are still there to tell our story more effectively, more consistently and more impactfully (I like threes).
This session was important because sometimes when you are very close to something, you can't always be objective when doing an evaluation. For most parents (unless you are the author and subject of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother -- actually am reading and loving that book), being truly objective about your offspring is difficult. In that same way, I confess to sometimes being a bit like an overprotective parent when it comes to our branding strategy. Also, when you are very close to something, you tend to think that everyone is paying as much attention to all the nuances as you, when really the focus is generally on the big things. Certainly, there are things I know we should change to make our branding staregy even more valuable, but as we all know, change is hard. So instead, I think of our strategy as evolving and being ever more improved. Monday's session was chock full of very good input that will help that evolution become reality. There are some 'big' things I know will remain the same -- things that have helped to distance us from others and helped the message to resonate. Of course, I can't say just WHAT those things are since this is social media and therefore a site that can be read by anybody. But, there are a number of changes we will make based on the input from team members and others.
One of the things I really enjoyed about yesterday's session was the willingness of everyone there to be open and constructively critical, bringing expertise from their specific areas as well as their roles as consumers of information. By sharing their thoughts, they will be helping to shape the next phase of our branding strategy. I hope it was fun for them and I also hope that they will see their recommendations reflected. I make this same offer to others on the team who perhaps had conflicts or other obligations that kept them from attending yesterday. Please shoot me an e-mail and share your thoughts about our branding strategy and how you believe it can be improved. As professionals and as consumers of information, I am sure you have great ideas to share.
And, it would be wrong of me not to mention a staff member who is getting ready for her next steps. Today officially marks Kathleen's last day with our team. I know we all wish her the best and are ever grateful to her for the role she has played in helping to strengthen the BJC brand. Don't know if she is a reader of this BLOG, but if she is -- "Another hearty round of applause for all you have done."
J
This session was important because sometimes when you are very close to something, you can't always be objective when doing an evaluation. For most parents (unless you are the author and subject of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother -- actually am reading and loving that book), being truly objective about your offspring is difficult. In that same way, I confess to sometimes being a bit like an overprotective parent when it comes to our branding strategy. Also, when you are very close to something, you tend to think that everyone is paying as much attention to all the nuances as you, when really the focus is generally on the big things. Certainly, there are things I know we should change to make our branding staregy even more valuable, but as we all know, change is hard. So instead, I think of our strategy as evolving and being ever more improved. Monday's session was chock full of very good input that will help that evolution become reality. There are some 'big' things I know will remain the same -- things that have helped to distance us from others and helped the message to resonate. Of course, I can't say just WHAT those things are since this is social media and therefore a site that can be read by anybody. But, there are a number of changes we will make based on the input from team members and others.
One of the things I really enjoyed about yesterday's session was the willingness of everyone there to be open and constructively critical, bringing expertise from their specific areas as well as their roles as consumers of information. By sharing their thoughts, they will be helping to shape the next phase of our branding strategy. I hope it was fun for them and I also hope that they will see their recommendations reflected. I make this same offer to others on the team who perhaps had conflicts or other obligations that kept them from attending yesterday. Please shoot me an e-mail and share your thoughts about our branding strategy and how you believe it can be improved. As professionals and as consumers of information, I am sure you have great ideas to share.
And, it would be wrong of me not to mention a staff member who is getting ready for her next steps. Today officially marks Kathleen's last day with our team. I know we all wish her the best and are ever grateful to her for the role she has played in helping to strengthen the BJC brand. Don't know if she is a reader of this BLOG, but if she is -- "Another hearty round of applause for all you have done."
J
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Technology Keeps You on the Run
Yesterday and today, we shared news of the realignment of one of BJC's marketing and communications functions. I realized as I was running to ensure that as many people as possible heard the news face to face, just how difficult that is now with ease of information sharing. One of the long-held tenents of corporate and employee communications has been to try to ensure that employees heard important news directly from the company/organization before seeing or hearing it on the news. Given online reporting, that is almost an impossible tenent to achieve. Newsfeeds, tweets, blogs, facebook postings, newspaper websites, microsites and the like give instantaneous access to information. I have had to get used to the fact that when speaking at conferences, what is said is likely to be paraphrased, tweeted and posted in a matter of nano-seconds. Tongue in cheek comments that are obviously humorous when delivered in person can take on a twisted meaning when read out of context.
So, last night I fretted a bit that some of the messages I shared in person with the marketing & communications team members, might not translate as well in tweet-dom. I am very excited about the change and looking forward to working more closely with the team. But, as I have shared before, change is always a bit disconcerting, so I would be less than honest if I did not 'fess up to some nervousness. I would also be less than human.
But, back to technology. Last week, we were fortunate to have guest speakers at our monthly Management Council meeting. They were invited to help us think strategically about mobile apps and applying them in health care. While I was at first thinking a bit too narrowly with a marketing hat on, I quickly realized that the technology could have perhaps even more value-added benefits outside of marketing. Of course, this was after I confused a mobile website with a mobile application -- so much to learn. Like many, I am excited about the tools that can help us all be better communicators. And, like many, I want to make sure we are thinking through the "whys" as well as the "hows" as we take advantage of these tools. Just as I was literally running yesterday to make sure that I stayed ahead of potential tweets, I know that staying on top of technology that will help us do a better job will require more skill than just running in heels.
J
So, last night I fretted a bit that some of the messages I shared in person with the marketing & communications team members, might not translate as well in tweet-dom. I am very excited about the change and looking forward to working more closely with the team. But, as I have shared before, change is always a bit disconcerting, so I would be less than honest if I did not 'fess up to some nervousness. I would also be less than human.
But, back to technology. Last week, we were fortunate to have guest speakers at our monthly Management Council meeting. They were invited to help us think strategically about mobile apps and applying them in health care. While I was at first thinking a bit too narrowly with a marketing hat on, I quickly realized that the technology could have perhaps even more value-added benefits outside of marketing. Of course, this was after I confused a mobile website with a mobile application -- so much to learn. Like many, I am excited about the tools that can help us all be better communicators. And, like many, I want to make sure we are thinking through the "whys" as well as the "hows" as we take advantage of these tools. Just as I was literally running yesterday to make sure that I stayed ahead of potential tweets, I know that staying on top of technology that will help us do a better job will require more skill than just running in heels.
J
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Catching Up
Am again shocked at how quickly time passes. How could it have been July 19th since my last post? Between all the real work that consumes a day, getting the adults (who used to be my little ones) settled back in their various locales after the summer and preparing for lots of meetings and presentations, posting just keeps getting pushed further and further back.
While this was a very busy summer, it was also a fulfilling one. The talent in our expanded department continues to be recognized with formal awards and lovely notes that come from clients. We all seem to be pushing ourselves to do even more in these times of restricted resources and what is being produced continues to be top notch.
Over the last couple of days I have been consumed by postings from our head of Web Services who is keeping us apprised of a situation involving some of our websites. What has intrigued me is not only what has happened, but the technical language that is way over my head and explained in such a way that I can actually follow what is happening. Again, I am so thankful for the talent we have inhouse. Several of our team members never cease to amaze me with their expansive knowledge of the world of social media and how we can appropriately apply it to meet our goals. I remember the first time I saw a QR code in a magazine and wondered why the editor had not 'caught' the ink smudge. I've come a long way baby!
So, just a short note to say thanks to everyone for all you do -- from helping kids understand the importance of nutrition to helping older adults stay active and fit -- and everything in between,, you are an important and valued member of our organization.
J
While this was a very busy summer, it was also a fulfilling one. The talent in our expanded department continues to be recognized with formal awards and lovely notes that come from clients. We all seem to be pushing ourselves to do even more in these times of restricted resources and what is being produced continues to be top notch.
Over the last couple of days I have been consumed by postings from our head of Web Services who is keeping us apprised of a situation involving some of our websites. What has intrigued me is not only what has happened, but the technical language that is way over my head and explained in such a way that I can actually follow what is happening. Again, I am so thankful for the talent we have inhouse. Several of our team members never cease to amaze me with their expansive knowledge of the world of social media and how we can appropriately apply it to meet our goals. I remember the first time I saw a QR code in a magazine and wondered why the editor had not 'caught' the ink smudge. I've come a long way baby!
So, just a short note to say thanks to everyone for all you do -- from helping kids understand the importance of nutrition to helping older adults stay active and fit -- and everything in between,, you are an important and valued member of our organization.
J
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Big Projects Keep On Coming
It is summer and in addition to the unending heat, we also continue to have unending work (which is a great thing for job security). Some of the big projects that are keeping me busy include continued work on our make medicine better branding strategy. We are very fortunate to have deep talent in the department and a number of team members have stepped up and are developing plans that will prepare us for the next phases of the strategy. It is helpful to have fresh eyes looking at concepts and images and words. However, for truth in advertising, must admit that I do continue to love the strategy. As I am writing this, I am preparing to attend an evening meeting of the North Side Access to Health Coalition. This group formed almost three years ago (time does fly), had about a year long hiatus and is back working to implement many of the ideas that were generated in the study of barriers and challenges for some City residents in accessing health services. Another significant project entails new requirements from the federal government with respect to community benefit. Over the past three years, we established a really good system for tracking and reporting the great work done by our hospitals and departments in the communities where we have a presence. The government has said that is good, but now they are requiring all non-profit hospitals to undertake a community health needs assessment and tie the programs we deliver to the identified needs in the community. This is a major undertaking, but again, team members have stepped up to the plate and are working to make us smart about how to do this work ahead of the deadlines. Washington, DC issues abound and require development of easy to understand policy papers and recommendations for a number of key audiences -- often without a lot of advance notice. It is however important (and satisfying) work and keeps me connected to my old urban planning and government roots. Working with several of our hospitals on major construction projects and being the sign czarina (thanks to all who help with this task) have kept me hopping this summer. I also spend a good deal of time thinking about how I can be a better leader for the team and how we as a team can be of better value to BJC. I write out ideas and some of them actually end up getting implemented. It's a useful way to not lose good ideas (and to discard bad ones that I thought were good when they first popped into my head). What do you do with the ideas you have?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Purpose of staff meetings
About 3 weeks ago, our team came together for our spring All-Staff Meeting. It was great that so many were able to attend and understandable that conflicts lead to some absences (including a personal conflict for me that caused me to have to miss the last 3 presentations). While I enjoy the opportunity to stand up and share, my favorite part of staff meetings (any staff meeting) is when I get to sit back and listen and learn. Being able to engage as a participant, rather than the facilitator is helpful to me. Many of you know that I don't believe in long meetings -- unless they truly are workshops with lots interaction among participants, give and take and executable 'to-dos' that result from the meeting.
I requested that everyone share some executable 'to-dos' with me following our staff meeting. And, so far I have received some very good input. It will be my failure if I don't put some of that input into practice and even worse if I don't share with you how I am putting the input into practice. The purpose of staff meetings is to provide us with the information we need to do our jobs better (I know, you're surprised I didn't say "make you-know-what better"). Sharing what is happening within our work groups, the department and BJC as a whole should help us be more effective at our jobs. The new Joint Commission requirements with respect to literacy that our guest speaker shared at the All Staff Meeting is an example of such helpful information. Those requirements will definitely have an impact on the work we do for our clients and there were lots of good recommendations shared by our team members with the speaker at the meeting.
The other important purpose of staff meetings is just setting aside time for teams to share, recharge and if necessary regroup. I believe work works better if we understand not only the How of getting something done, but the Why of getting something done. Often we are so focused on making sure the something gets done that we forget to share Why it needs to be done. As we enter a time of unprecedented uncertainty for health care providers, it will be even more important to share the Why. The CEO letter to all employees a couple of months ago was intended to help share some of the Why. The letter was well received by employees and there will be more coming. When we read BJC Today and visit bjcnet, we can get another glimpse of the Why. But, in our regular and special staff meetings and our 1:1s we must be intentional in incorporating the Why so that we can all have a clear understanding of our direction and what needs to be done to get us there. To me that is the real value of staff meetings.
I requested that everyone share some executable 'to-dos' with me following our staff meeting. And, so far I have received some very good input. It will be my failure if I don't put some of that input into practice and even worse if I don't share with you how I am putting the input into practice. The purpose of staff meetings is to provide us with the information we need to do our jobs better (I know, you're surprised I didn't say "make you-know-what better"). Sharing what is happening within our work groups, the department and BJC as a whole should help us be more effective at our jobs. The new Joint Commission requirements with respect to literacy that our guest speaker shared at the All Staff Meeting is an example of such helpful information. Those requirements will definitely have an impact on the work we do for our clients and there were lots of good recommendations shared by our team members with the speaker at the meeting.
The other important purpose of staff meetings is just setting aside time for teams to share, recharge and if necessary regroup. I believe work works better if we understand not only the How of getting something done, but the Why of getting something done. Often we are so focused on making sure the something gets done that we forget to share Why it needs to be done. As we enter a time of unprecedented uncertainty for health care providers, it will be even more important to share the Why. The CEO letter to all employees a couple of months ago was intended to help share some of the Why. The letter was well received by employees and there will be more coming. When we read BJC Today and visit bjcnet, we can get another glimpse of the Why. But, in our regular and special staff meetings and our 1:1s we must be intentional in incorporating the Why so that we can all have a clear understanding of our direction and what needs to be done to get us there. To me that is the real value of staff meetings.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
A Great Time Had By All
I love the month of May. It is when the warm weather we might have experienced in April is likely to stay. It marks an end to the very rainy season. More people start to venture outside for longer periods of time. And it is the beginning of graduation season. Graduations are wonderful events. They mark an end and a beginning. Whether the graduate being celebrated is earning a doctorate or a promotion from pre-school to "big" school, milestones have been conquered and new opportunities are beginning.
I just returned from my niece's graduation from a small university in Atlanta. The weather was picture perfect and the 200+ members of the graduating class were wearing smiles to beat the band. I enjoyed looking at proud mothers, fathers, siblings, spouses and extended family members who had come to wish the graduates well. In lieu of a single keynote speaker, there were short talks by the president of the class (he managed to be inspirational and hilarious and appreciative in a manner of 4 minutes) and the three persons (two academics and an elected official) who were being presented honorary degrees. As I was listening to the talks, I came face to face with my 'preconceived notions.' You see, when I saw the list of the honoraries, I made up in my mind which of the speakers was going to absolutely rock the house. I will tell you that each of the speakers rocked the house in their own way, however the speaker that 'moved' me the most was not the one I expected. Which then reminded me of something I share when I am conducting communications training -- we communicate long before we say a word. Based on what people have heard, read or learned about us, they likely have a preconceived notion. When I do communications training for high school students, I will often play music before I join them. I play something that is "their music" (I have to admit I like a lot of it) and the mood of the students is instantly changed. They sit up, lean forward and give me the benefit of the doubt. Even though I am 'old' to them, a preconceived notion has been dispelled.
Not all preconceived notions are bad. For instance, we look forward to the next movie from a favorite director, the latest song from a favorite artist, the next book from a favorite author. Unfortunately, however a lot of preconceived notions are not ones we would be comfortable admitting we have. In the workplace, there are sometimes preconceived notions that accompany job titles, offices, cubicles, parking spaces, and other trappings. We can sometimes ascribe characteristics to co-workers (which really is how I think of all of us) based on these trappings. Don't get me wrong, I know there are different roles in all organizations. But, they are just that 'different.' It takes everyone to make organizations work and I find it interesting that while most of us understand how 'important' the President or CEO is, we can forget that it is the front line worker that always needs to have a replacement to do his or her job when they leave for vacation. The CEO can leave for weeks and not have a replacement CEO called in to do his or her work. But, to be fair, if a CEO leaves for good, it takes longer to find his or her successor.
What preconceived notions do you have? As I sat in the car coming back from the graduation -- where a great time truly was had by all -- I started to think about other preconceived notions I have and to commit to trying to eliminate those that are not value-added. One of the preconceived notions that I will hold on to however, is the notion that we are all here to do our very best work. That one I don't want to lose.
I just returned from my niece's graduation from a small university in Atlanta. The weather was picture perfect and the 200+ members of the graduating class were wearing smiles to beat the band. I enjoyed looking at proud mothers, fathers, siblings, spouses and extended family members who had come to wish the graduates well. In lieu of a single keynote speaker, there were short talks by the president of the class (he managed to be inspirational and hilarious and appreciative in a manner of 4 minutes) and the three persons (two academics and an elected official) who were being presented honorary degrees. As I was listening to the talks, I came face to face with my 'preconceived notions.' You see, when I saw the list of the honoraries, I made up in my mind which of the speakers was going to absolutely rock the house. I will tell you that each of the speakers rocked the house in their own way, however the speaker that 'moved' me the most was not the one I expected. Which then reminded me of something I share when I am conducting communications training -- we communicate long before we say a word. Based on what people have heard, read or learned about us, they likely have a preconceived notion. When I do communications training for high school students, I will often play music before I join them. I play something that is "their music" (I have to admit I like a lot of it) and the mood of the students is instantly changed. They sit up, lean forward and give me the benefit of the doubt. Even though I am 'old' to them, a preconceived notion has been dispelled.
Not all preconceived notions are bad. For instance, we look forward to the next movie from a favorite director, the latest song from a favorite artist, the next book from a favorite author. Unfortunately, however a lot of preconceived notions are not ones we would be comfortable admitting we have. In the workplace, there are sometimes preconceived notions that accompany job titles, offices, cubicles, parking spaces, and other trappings. We can sometimes ascribe characteristics to co-workers (which really is how I think of all of us) based on these trappings. Don't get me wrong, I know there are different roles in all organizations. But, they are just that 'different.' It takes everyone to make organizations work and I find it interesting that while most of us understand how 'important' the President or CEO is, we can forget that it is the front line worker that always needs to have a replacement to do his or her job when they leave for vacation. The CEO can leave for weeks and not have a replacement CEO called in to do his or her work. But, to be fair, if a CEO leaves for good, it takes longer to find his or her successor.
What preconceived notions do you have? As I sat in the car coming back from the graduation -- where a great time truly was had by all -- I started to think about other preconceived notions I have and to commit to trying to eliminate those that are not value-added. One of the preconceived notions that I will hold on to however, is the notion that we are all here to do our very best work. That one I don't want to lose.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Language, language
I was reading a news magazine a few weeks ago and noticed that the use of formerly forbidden four letter words were included in two of the articles. These words were not included in quotations uttered by others, but used by the authors as part of their communication style. I had noticed that the use of less "bad" words had begun to make their way into articles and on non-cable television shows, but the "big and bad" four letter words I had only seen in print on the few occassions when I read Rolling Stone (once because Whitney Houston was on the cover and she was/is an alltime fave). What does it mean that curse words are now okay to be included in news magazines? Will we start to see these words in our daily newspapers? Will news anchors begin to pepper their banter with such words? Is it just because I am way on the other side of a certain age that I am bothered by this?
In thinking about why it bothered me to see this language used so carelessly (my opinion), I decided it was not that a child could have picked up the magazine and seen these curse words. Afterall, it would be the rare child who would be reading a news magazine. No, it was that it seemed insenstive to me as the reader. The authors were not my friends. We did not have a relationship that said it was okay to use that kind of language in my presence. Could not the writers have thought of a more intelligent way to express their thoughts.
As a person who communicates for a living, I am concered that writing in a news magazine would devolve to this level. While I understand that we live in a much more familiar society, I believe it is still necessary to demonstrate respect for others and when I read those articles, I felt a little disrespected. Is it just me or have others noticed previously taboo words making their way into public discourse?
In thinking about why it bothered me to see this language used so carelessly (my opinion), I decided it was not that a child could have picked up the magazine and seen these curse words. Afterall, it would be the rare child who would be reading a news magazine. No, it was that it seemed insenstive to me as the reader. The authors were not my friends. We did not have a relationship that said it was okay to use that kind of language in my presence. Could not the writers have thought of a more intelligent way to express their thoughts.
As a person who communicates for a living, I am concered that writing in a news magazine would devolve to this level. While I understand that we live in a much more familiar society, I believe it is still necessary to demonstrate respect for others and when I read those articles, I felt a little disrespected. Is it just me or have others noticed previously taboo words making their way into public discourse?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
When the News is Good
Today, we are celebrating that six BJC hospitals have been recognized in the newly established ranking of hospitals in metropolitan areas by U.S. News magazine. It has been a whirlwind two days so far (the 'embargoed' list was shared yesterday) as the mad scramble to get the word out ensued. It is fabulous when good news can be shared and the work of teams celebrated. Barnes-Jewish, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Christian Hospital, Barnes-Jewish St. Peters and Barnes-Jewish West County were among the 15 adult hospitals recognized, with St. Louis Children's Hospital being the only pediatric hospital in the area to make the list. Only hospitals in metropolitan areas of 1 million or more people were ranked. Absolutely a day of pride for all the hospital team members and for all of us who work to support our hospitals and service organizations.
It is funny that preparing for the unknown (yes, there were contigency communications in case the outcome of the list had been different) takes a lot of time and a different kind of energy. When the news turns out to be good, you heave a sigh of relief, but still have to spring into action. From notifying leadership to getting the CEO prepared and delivered for the morning news at 6:19 a.m. to sharing the news with employees, board members and the public, it is so good to have a team that can be relied on to spring with you.Thanks to everyone who has helped and is helping to share the good news.
I kind of marvel at the industry U.S. News has created for itself. The ability to capture the attention of the public with the compilation of a "Best of" list is pretty amazing. Perhaps it is because "Best of" is simple and easy to recognize. Most don't delve into the methodology that lands a hospital, university, city, school district, restaurant, department store or automobile on the "Best of" list. However, most tend to think a little more highly of the "fill in the blank" that makes a recognized "Best of" list.
So, we can all enjoy the glow that comes from having so many BJC hospitals listed and which I believe helps to validate our call to make medicine better. A fewshortthoughts because I am still Springing.
It is funny that preparing for the unknown (yes, there were contigency communications in case the outcome of the list had been different) takes a lot of time and a different kind of energy. When the news turns out to be good, you heave a sigh of relief, but still have to spring into action. From notifying leadership to getting the CEO prepared and delivered for the morning news at 6:19 a.m. to sharing the news with employees, board members and the public, it is so good to have a team that can be relied on to spring with you.Thanks to everyone who has helped and is helping to share the good news.
I kind of marvel at the industry U.S. News has created for itself. The ability to capture the attention of the public with the compilation of a "Best of" list is pretty amazing. Perhaps it is because "Best of" is simple and easy to recognize. Most don't delve into the methodology that lands a hospital, university, city, school district, restaurant, department store or automobile on the "Best of" list. However, most tend to think a little more highly of the "fill in the blank" that makes a recognized "Best of" list.
So, we can all enjoy the glow that comes from having so many BJC hospitals listed and which I believe helps to validate our call to make medicine better. A fewshortthoughts because I am still Springing.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Rising Above the Noise
No, not the din of the cheers of Green Bay Packer fans (and for the record, I didn't really care who won, just wanted to see a really good game -- which happened), but the noise that keeps us from doing our best. At the end of 2010, I seemed to be drowning in noise from all kinds of places and did not believe I was doing my best. I could tell because my patience (which I am not long on to begin with) had gotten very short, it took me a lot of drafts to get things just right and my interpersonal skills in most settings where I found myself were not at the place where I wanted them to be. Over the holidays, I made a commitment to try to rise above the noise. And, I am happy to report that for almost two whole months I have done much better than I did at the end of 2010.
I admit that it is work to rise above the noise. It is amazing how easy it is to just drift back into the old habits of seeing the glass as half empty. Everything from work budget issues to the toppling of governments can have us very dejected about the state of affairs. But, in these times I have found it best to focus on the things that are within my control. It doesn't mean that I bury my head in the sand (can you say CNN addicted?), but it does mean that I take in the 'news' (whether from around the world or down the hall), determine if I can have an impact, and respond accordingly.
I feel very fortunate to work for an organization that is focused on stability, that knows what it wants to be when it grows up and that tries to encourage the best work from all of us. Sometimes it is hard to remember that because of all the noise. But, it is what drew me to BJC over 7 years ago and what keeps me here. My hope is that when the noise of work gets too loud that we go back to the joy we felt when we received the call that said, "You got the job!"
Back to the din of cheers from the Super Bowl. While I loved the game, I admit I am also hooked on the commercials. My faves this year were two of the Bridgestone Tire ones -- the guy who mistakenly hit Reply to All and then drove like Mario Andretti (am I dating myself) to confiscate computers that received the message and the absolutely wonderful one with the beaver who remembered the driver who saved his life and returned the favor six months later. The little beaver claws doing a heart pound cracked me up. Did anyone have different favorites?
I admit that it is work to rise above the noise. It is amazing how easy it is to just drift back into the old habits of seeing the glass as half empty. Everything from work budget issues to the toppling of governments can have us very dejected about the state of affairs. But, in these times I have found it best to focus on the things that are within my control. It doesn't mean that I bury my head in the sand (can you say CNN addicted?), but it does mean that I take in the 'news' (whether from around the world or down the hall), determine if I can have an impact, and respond accordingly.
I feel very fortunate to work for an organization that is focused on stability, that knows what it wants to be when it grows up and that tries to encourage the best work from all of us. Sometimes it is hard to remember that because of all the noise. But, it is what drew me to BJC over 7 years ago and what keeps me here. My hope is that when the noise of work gets too loud that we go back to the joy we felt when we received the call that said, "You got the job!"
Back to the din of cheers from the Super Bowl. While I loved the game, I admit I am also hooked on the commercials. My faves this year were two of the Bridgestone Tire ones -- the guy who mistakenly hit Reply to All and then drove like Mario Andretti (am I dating myself) to confiscate computers that received the message and the absolutely wonderful one with the beaver who remembered the driver who saved his life and returned the favor six months later. The little beaver claws doing a heart pound cracked me up. Did anyone have different favorites?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Leading from the Cheap Seats
On one of my recent (very cold) early morning walks I got to thinking about all the Monday morning quarterbacking that has been taking place over the last few weeks. From criticism of play calling by coaches to questions on whether a certain Second City quarterback was really too hurt to play, I realized that there is nothing easier than providing commentary from the sidelines. And, being that I still had a few miles to go on my walk, I started to apply this finding to the workplace and wondered -- Am I leading from the cheap seats? Since I am not a designer or a newswriter or a videographer or a clinician or a child or older adult health/behavior expert, do I make sure I give those who do have those skillsets the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their work? Do I offer praise as much as I offer suggestions (which can sometimes be perceived as criticism)? Are e-mails from me welcomed or do they make the recipient think "Now what?"
Of course, my hope is that neither I, nor any of the other leaders in our department, are leading from the cheap seats. And, if we are, I hope that you will tell us and even more importantly, that we will take it to heart and make necessary changes. What kind of changes? Being more attentive to the great work that is done and recognizing that work directly with the individual responsible and publicly with others (we tried to incorporate Shout Outs for the public recognition, but haven't seen one lately -- which may be my pc). It is also important that we take a breather before launching into Monday morning quarterbacking. Do we have all the facts? Is the tone of our question helpful or hurtful? Are we seeking to make the situation better or just ascribe blame? Those of you who know me well, are aware that the last thing I am ever interested in is who to blame when something has not gone as we had hoped. Instead, the goal is always to right the ship as quickly as possible and learn from the misstep. I can have that attitude because I am so confident in the members of our team. Which gets back to the original subject of my early morning walk. When you truly view yourself as part of a team, the reasons for the wins and the defeats are equally shared by all team members. Will be interesting to see how this concept plays out for the Packers and the Steelers this Sunday. I will be rooting for the ________________. How about you?
J
Of course, my hope is that neither I, nor any of the other leaders in our department, are leading from the cheap seats. And, if we are, I hope that you will tell us and even more importantly, that we will take it to heart and make necessary changes. What kind of changes? Being more attentive to the great work that is done and recognizing that work directly with the individual responsible and publicly with others (we tried to incorporate Shout Outs for the public recognition, but haven't seen one lately -- which may be my pc). It is also important that we take a breather before launching into Monday morning quarterbacking. Do we have all the facts? Is the tone of our question helpful or hurtful? Are we seeking to make the situation better or just ascribe blame? Those of you who know me well, are aware that the last thing I am ever interested in is who to blame when something has not gone as we had hoped. Instead, the goal is always to right the ship as quickly as possible and learn from the misstep. I can have that attitude because I am so confident in the members of our team. Which gets back to the original subject of my early morning walk. When you truly view yourself as part of a team, the reasons for the wins and the defeats are equally shared by all team members. Will be interesting to see how this concept plays out for the Packers and the Steelers this Sunday. I will be rooting for the ________________. How about you?
J
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Save the Date
Not only is November 11, 2011 Veteran's Day (thanks to all currently in uniform and to those who previously served our country as part of the military), but it is 11-11-11! From my last post, you know how I get excited about calendar numbers, so I am inviting everyone in Communications & Marketing to save that date (it is a Friday) to have lunch on me. More information will come as we near the date, but wanted you to get it on your calendars!
J
J
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
1-1-11
I couldn't believe I almost forgot to notice the date! I love all things related to calendar number patterns, so the New Year's date was a doozy. However, I was so busy having fun (not the work kind as in my last post, but the leisure kind that we all love) that I almost forgot to notice the pattern. I mean I knew it was January 1st and that it was now 2011, but I had not taken the time to appreciate the numbers.
Too often, we don't take time to appreciate the little things that can bring us joy. We are often so focused on the big things of life -- making a living, taking care of kids, taking care of parents, studying if we are back in school, planning the next event, vacation, trip to the doctor's office, etc -- that it is easy to miss the little things.
I NEVER make resolutions -- mostly cuz I know I won't keep them, but if I did, I would encourage me to take more time to enjoy life's little pleasures. Like the fact that there is sunshine today (January 4); that all of the flights I took over the holidays took off and landed on time; that I got to use my free pass at Zumba last night (and it kicked my rear since I missed my normal routine over the holidays); and that we have welcomed a new staff member to help us with makemedicinebetter. Okay, maybe the last one is not a little pleasure, but the fact that he, Kim and Sylvia just stopped by to say "Hi" is.
Since I did not get a lot of e-mails or posts (save one from Jason -- thanks, Jason) on how to put fun into work, I am going to make the offer again. I know that since we were approaching the holidays, there was much to be completed at work and likely much to be completed at home. But, I really am interested in your thoughts on how to incorporate fun and little pleasures into the work day.
So while you contemplate that, in the twitter/facebook way of sharing mundane (and sometimes inane) data about what one is doing, I am going to take a walk over to the Center for Advanced Medicine to pick up a prescription and take time along the way to enjoy that it is in the mid-30s and sunny. Truly a lovely little pleasure in the work day.
J
Too often, we don't take time to appreciate the little things that can bring us joy. We are often so focused on the big things of life -- making a living, taking care of kids, taking care of parents, studying if we are back in school, planning the next event, vacation, trip to the doctor's office, etc -- that it is easy to miss the little things.
I NEVER make resolutions -- mostly cuz I know I won't keep them, but if I did, I would encourage me to take more time to enjoy life's little pleasures. Like the fact that there is sunshine today (January 4); that all of the flights I took over the holidays took off and landed on time; that I got to use my free pass at Zumba last night (and it kicked my rear since I missed my normal routine over the holidays); and that we have welcomed a new staff member to help us with makemedicinebetter. Okay, maybe the last one is not a little pleasure, but the fact that he, Kim and Sylvia just stopped by to say "Hi" is.
Since I did not get a lot of e-mails or posts (save one from Jason -- thanks, Jason) on how to put fun into work, I am going to make the offer again. I know that since we were approaching the holidays, there was much to be completed at work and likely much to be completed at home. But, I really am interested in your thoughts on how to incorporate fun and little pleasures into the work day.
So while you contemplate that, in the twitter/facebook way of sharing mundane (and sometimes inane) data about what one is doing, I am going to take a walk over to the Center for Advanced Medicine to pick up a prescription and take time along the way to enjoy that it is in the mid-30s and sunny. Truly a lovely little pleasure in the work day.
J
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