Giving A "Shout Out"

Too often we notice that our co-workers have done something wonderful, gone above and beyond in providing service, or been a good listener when we needed to vent. You probably always planned to send a note or stop by and let that co-worker know how much they were appreciated, but somehow time got away from you. Well, BJC Corporate Communications & Marketing to the rescue! In the next few weeks, Debra Denham and Mary Elizabeth Grimes will be coming to one of your staff meetings to introduce the BJC Corporate Communications & Marketing SHOUT OUT Award. I don't want to steal their thunder, so I won't go into a lot of detail here, but am pleased that they have created an easy and accessible opportunity for us to share our appreciation with one another. And, it will encourage you to use this space (which I think is a good thing). So, to Debra and Mary Elizabeth, I am sending a very public SHOUT OUT for a job well done!

Another quick note, I had the pleasure of having lunch with Becky Slatin a week ago and truly enjoyed getting to learn more about her. I am looking forward to the next lunch which will be with "DRUM ROLL PLEASE" Tiffany Ann Dabbs, administrative assistant to Mary Elizabeth and Sylvia. So, Tiffany, this is your notice that Barbara will be contacting you to set up lunch or breakfast at the restaurant of your choice (this was a bit of a challenge for me and Becky) and you may feel free to invite a co-worker or dine with me alone.

Finally, at a recent staff meeting I shared with the managers and directors some of the projects that will keep me busy in 2009. List includes community benefit, branding, community hospital & Kingshighway campus signage, BJC national positioning, economic stimulus package projects, more earned media, delivering communications & media training, gaining local approval of hospital construction projects, etc. etc. etc. What will keep you busy this year?

I am Inspired

Today I had the pleasure of attending the newly branded "Souper Bowl" Luncheon hosted by BJC's Media Services Team. It was a wonderful experience to sample different varieties of chili and soup prepared by communications and marketing staff from across our organization. I certainly had some favorites, but everything I tasted was good. What a talented bunch. It was also nice to get to chat (even if only for a few moments) with marketing & communications team members from near and far.
What was also very cool was getting a tour of the 'renewed' Media Services space. The team took the opportunity to get super-organized in preparation for new carpeting and paint. As Taunia led our tour, she shared how much more efficeint she feels now that the work space was so much more attractive.
Which brings me to the "I am Inspired" part. I am embarrassed to admit that I have been here for slightly over five years, but still have files (that I have not reviewed) in my office of the person who preceded me . Now, it should be really easy to just throw them out, because if I have not looked at them in five years, I obviously don't need them, right? Wrong -- it is impossible for me to just pitch something until I look at it to make SURE I don't need it. But, I am going to do just that over the next several Saturdays. Because, like Taunia, I want to feel much more efficient.
So, I thank the Media Services Team for a great lunch that came with non-edible extras!
J

The Year Ahead

Oaky, I will admit it -- I have not yet completed my goals for what I will accomplish at work this year. Not because I don't think this is important (it is), but because I am still digging out from several large end of the year projects that commanded much of my attention. One of the reasons I started writing this BLOG was feedback that some Communications staff members wondered how I spent my time. Two of the projects that consumed time at the end of the year will hopefully prove to be very beneficial for BJC and the region as a whole. One was completion of the contract to facilitate the reconstruction of the Tower Grove/I-64 interchange near the Kingshighway campus. This project, which will not begin until the New I-64 construction (another project that has taken a lot of time and allowed me to stand on an overpass at 5:45 a.m. and talk to all three news stations) is complete, will provide the public with a much improved interchange.
The other project involved a cross-organizational task force of health care providers, elected officials, educators and others who examined access to health care for residents living in North St. Louis City. This was a fascinating (and very worthwhile) effort that yielded a report with 18 key recommendations submitted to the Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis. It also yielded new relationships and a commitment among the participants to work together to address this very important issue.
When I looked back at my 2008 goals, only one of these projects was on the list. But, we know that as a client-serving function, our job is to meet the needs of our clients. It is great when those needs are anticipated early and we have lots of time, but in reality that is often not the case.
So, I am resolving to complete my 2009 work goals within the next 7 days (that's kind of a goal, right?). One of them is to find time to come visit and talk with each of you more regularly. I always learn a lot from those rare visits and there is generally something shared that makes me laugh. This is also the month that I will also start hosting lunch/breakfast with a staff member or group of staff members. So, someone should look forward to a call from Barb Reynolds next week to schedule our 'date' for the last week of January.
I am also working on personal goals. Over the holidays, a good friend shared that he and his family each write down their goals for the year and talk about them together. They include things like spending more quality time together, volunteering to help others, and getting closer to neighbors. I was very impressed, but a little embarassed to realize that my personal goals would not be nearly as lofty -- I mostly want to figure out how to keep my closet from becoming a wreck two weeks after I have cleaned it.
Have you completed your work goals for 2009? How about any personal goals? Would love to hear from you.

End of the Year

First of all THANK YOU to each and every one of the members of the BJC Corporate Communications Team. I feel very fortunate to get to work with people who are so dedicated to their jobs and to each other. We continued to be stretched this past year and to rise to the occassion. We welcomed new team members and said goodbye to others. We all know Change is the one constant in life (hows that for ending the year with a much-used cliche. I will refrain from talking about shifting paradigms or stakeholder engagement or pushing the envelope or Vote for Pedro -- another one of my secret favorite movies).
I am looking forward to 2009, but mostly I am looking forward to the end of the work day when I will go home and hang with my children (all three are home -- yea!!!), cook a big dinner for tomorrow and welcome my side of the family, and then do something we have never done before -- spend New Year's someplace other than St. Louis. Yep, Flint and I are heading to Hilton Head with friends for a little non-kid rest and relaxation where you can bet I will try really hard not to read the blackberry or call in to the office. (My husband says this is what you call a Sucker Bet). I wish you all a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year. See you in 09.
J

Maybe we are not BLOG-Ready

So, I am over two weeks late posting my weekly message and no one has taken me to task. Does this mean that perhaps our Department is not BLOG-ready? Should I perhaps be communicating via weekly e-mail blasts? Or, am I just imagining that the questions asked in my weekly messages are provocative enough to invite comments from you? Are, or we in the age group that has not yet embraced regular use of social media? You may remember that when I began this journey, it was part research to see if BLOGGING has a place as a regular form of communication for BJC? Based on the experience so far, I would say we might be a bit premature in recommending this to leadership as an appropriate method of two-way communication. One of the non-BJC regular readers of this BLOG has suggested I spice it up with photos and other visuals to add interest. Others have suggested that I send out a reminder that there is a new post. Others noted that readers could 'book-mark' the site, so that they would know to occassionally visit. So, I am asking are we BLOG-ready or should this form of communication for our department be abandoned in favor of more traditional methods? I really do look forward to hearing from you.
J

But Your Mother Owns a Beauty Salon

At BJC, each fall we have the opportunity to participate in an All Employee Survey. Yesterday I had the chance to see a broad overview of our department's results and I look forward to sharing them with you over the next few weeks. However, two things caught my eye and gave me "cause for pause" and are the subject of this posting. Some Context: When I was about 7 my parents bought a beauty salon that my mother operated for about 8 years. She was quite the sought after hair stylist and always had a steady stream of customers. And, you would think that my sisters and I would have had the most up-to-date hair styles among our friends. And, you would be wrong. There is an old adage that the doctor's kids are the sickest, the plumber's pipes leak, and the chef's family eats Chef Boy Ar Dee (boy, am I aging myself).
Two areas of our survey results, made me think of these adages and my mother's hair salon and my less than stylish hair growing up. The opportunities for improvement in your views of leadership (me) and communication throughout the department (me, directors and managers). I won't pretend it was easy to see the scores -- it wasn't. But, I believe when you are faced with a challenge you have two choices -- either rise to it or move on. I prefer the rise option. I welcome any feedback you are comfortable sharing on improving these two areas. You can share them in this forum, shoot me an e-mail, or send me an anonymous note. I assure you I have very thick skin (I worked in government for 16 years and spent many Monday nights conducting zoning and land use public hearings, so criticism does not bother me) and truly want to hear from you. I know that I won't always get it right, but you have my commitment that I will try.

Work and Fun -- Mutually Exclusive Events???

Many of you have heard me say that I think it is important to enjoy what you do for a living. After all, the vast majority of our weekday waking hours are spent working. The days go by a lot faster if we feel that what we do makes a difference; we have co-workers with whom we can share the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat; and if we can sometimes have a good old-fashioned belly-laugh because something is so darned funny. I am fortunate that I get to experience these things -- not all the time, but some of the time. In large part, it is because of the very talented BJC communications and marketing team I have the honor of leading. Last Friday, our team had some 'planned fun' taking a little bit longer at lunch and enjoying ourselves at Dave & Busters. While taking time for this kind of fun opportunity is important, it is the thrill of solving a work challenge together that I really enjoy. Whether we solve the challenge with words, pictures, video, the web or a combination, the role of our team in helping to tell the story of BJC and our hospitals and services is a value-added one. Are we perfect? Absolutely, not. But, are we committed to doing the best work possible for our clients each and every time? Absolutely. Is this always easy? I wish. But, fortunately most of the time we do get it right. And that to me makes work fun. What about work is fun for you?