What a Difference Training Makes

Another 6 day.

Today I received training for one of the tasks I need to do at work. I have been struggling with it and a couple of people attempted to help me learn without much success. Today worked. I always do better when I understand the purpose and big picture of the task at hand. That was part of today's training, Now I know I can complete this work more effectively, efficiently and correctly.

That is a good feeling. Good and timely training is good for the work environment. I like feeling competent and supported. 

Have you ever tried to do an important work task that you did not feel confident in doing? How did you work it out for yourself?

Insist on the learning...

Linda

Good Health

I have an IPhone. My friend Suzanne and I give our IPhones their own cutzie name. I call mine Bella. I love my Bella and in particular a new app (short for application). It is simply called Lose It! Thanks for telling me about it Suzanne.

After putting in my pertinent information, it determined I ought to have 1200 calories a day to loose two pounds per week. It has a great calorie library and is really easy to use. I am sooooo excited to report that I have already lost 5 pounds. 

This is huge. Every FADulous diet I have tried (and spent way too $$$ on) has never resulted in weight loss. I am encouraged to keep up the good work. I will keep you posted. Heck, I may even start exercising again. Whoo hoo!

Make it so!

Linda

Meeting Magic: I love a meeting done well.

First...my daily Work Day Rating. Today was a 6. Not bad. I was tired at the end of the day but not stressed. Tiredness typically means I will sleep well. Stressed typically means I will continue working alllll night long (in my dreams) trying to solve every problem on earth whilst wearing a MooMoo or some other strange thing.

The best part of the day was getting a number of tasks checked off my list. Also, I was really happy with my staff today and their willingness to 'Be The Team'. Good stuff indeed!

We have a new meeting in which we get together with newly admitted patients to discuss discharge planning. I like the meeting because we get to talk with the patient and family as a team as we work toward a successful discharge. We get to know what everyone is thinking and planning. I think it is a great concept and expect to see positive results for our patients.

Because it is a new meeting, we are trying to work out the bugs. When everyone is prepared, it goes well. When we follow an agenda it goes well. When we work from 'the seat of our pants', it runs way over time.

I have always been a advocate of good meeting planning. In fact I once wrote an article, 'Kick Butt Meetings'. It is really frustrating for everyone involved to feel as though time is being wasted. We just cannot waste time in the current work environment. It damages productivity and morale.

To see the article go to www.coachmcdonald.com and look for the article list on the right side. Or go directly to Kick Butt Meetings.

Have you ever had to sit through a non-productive meeting? Of course you have...What made it unproductive? Have you ever offered suggestions to improve a meeting or asked that you and your team take a look at how to make meetings better? Depending on your position, this could feel a risky thing to do.

What ideas do you have for making meeting magic happen in your work place? I would love to hear them.

Make it a great day! Linda

Today was a 7!

Three months ago I was hired as the director of rehabilitation services. After five years of self-employment, I guessed it would be a bit challenging to make the transition. I was right! This is a challenging transition to make physically, mentally and emotionally.

Physically: I used to work seven days a week morning, day and night. Now I work Monday through Friday about 9 hours a day. I am more tired now. I used to be able to work at my own pace, take frequent breaks, work in my PJ's from home. My daily routine now is driven by others...lots of others. Some days it is difficult to take time for a comfort break (if you know what I mean). Everyone seems to need me. EVERYONE! I don't know how they got by without me before I started there. Ever the optimist, it is nice to be needed.

Mentally: I love to learn new things. I have the books, CD's and time on-line to prove it. When self-employed, the new learning was driven by customer need, but most often, by my own curiosity. THIS learning is intense and driven by daily operations. This learning is required to do the job, of course. This learning, while interesting, is not what I would have chosen 'out of curiosity'. And, much of it is learning by fire. Which brings me to the next transition challenge...

Emotionally: Yikes! Big jobs require big learning and major responsibility. While in the learning curve and 'being' the boss-lady, I have just as many moments of feeling incompetent and competent. It takes time to get grounded in a new environment and with new people. Be Patient is the new mantra.

So, three months in, I focus as much as possible on the good days. My 1 to 10 scale is... 1= "GET ME OUT OF HERE" and 10 = "THIS IS THE BEST JOB ON THE PLANET, Why, I should do it for free".

Today was a 7. I breezed through my reports, gave two performance reviews that went very well, went home at lunch to walk my dog and I got it all done in just eight hours.

I look forward to another good day tomorrow.

How would you rate your day?

Make it a great one. Linda