Archive for January, 2011

The term “networking” sometimes carries a negative connotation due to professional connections being used to get in the door or sell a product. But when Barbara and I made the decision in 2003 to start our own firm, we “networked” with everyone we knew! We met with colleagues of many years who worked in the medical field, taking them out for meals (I gained twelve pounds during our launch!).

Thinking of natural, logical business connections a physician would have, we met with several principals of larger healthcare-focused legal and accounting firms. After all, if you’re in financial difficulty, your CPA and attorney will know!

Then we hit the professional associations – Washington State Medical Association and the Medical Societies. We selectively advertised – remember this was pre-Facebook and LinkedIn – with Washington State Medical Group Management, Medical Group Management, provider directories, resource guides and associated websites. We worked the speaker circuit, volunteering our expertise and presenting at any healthcare function to which we were invited.

Within 90 days, the phone began to ring and it hasn’t stopped since.

Based on that success, we decided our approach to marketing, building rapport and connecting with our clients would be based on three key ingredients:

1. Be nice to everyone. Make the effort and never underestimate the value of being nice! For instance, last night we dined with a VP from MultiCare who has become a good friend to both of us.
2. Listen to every voice. When we build teams and redesign workflows, our belief is that every voice matters.
3. Bring your ‘A’ game to work – every day.

Embodying these three, simple approaches have helped us easily outweigh and outmaneuver work stress. So nurture your relationships with your colleagues. Be proud of your accomplishments, tooting your own horn in a humble way!

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“The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions.” – John Hancock

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Derry, Nolan & Associates’ healthcare and medical practice consultants can help your healthcare organization – medical practice, clinic or integrated healthcare system – with leadership recruitment, interim management, on-boarding and customer service training.

Happy New Year to you, readers, fans and FB friends! So, what are your 2011 resolutions? Would one happen to be about life balance?

If not, think about where you are in work / life. Hopefully, this post will provide insight, even help you decompress. Work, home and social activities can easily become overwhelming (particularly for those in the healthcare and medical field). Barb and I are all too familiar with those feelings! Even when client work is most demanding, our “pact” for Life Balance means we take time to walk, work out, read and take regular vacations. In fact, we decided long ago to be choosey about our clients. Only those who truly are ready to listen, collaborate and work to improve their healthcare organization or medical practice win our utmost attention.

Clarify your priorities. It is the first and most essential step to achieving a well-balanced life. Here’s a simple 3-step exercise to use as a tool:

1. Write down your Top 5 priorities. Not what you think your priorities should be, but the ones you want!
2. Next, analyze where you spend the majority of your time. Does it align with your Top 5?
3. Finally, those that don’t align, consider how to eliminate them. After all, if they didn’t make it into the Top 5, perhaps it’s time they go away.

Every choice has a consequence. Each leads us down a particular path. Being at a crossroad of employment frustration led Barb and me to start our medical practice consulting firm. We knew we wanted to follow our energy, rather than exchanging it for a paycheck. When you find yourself at a crossroad, take the opportunity – it’s so important – to determine what really matters to you.

Remember: people who care about you want you to succeed – and be happy! Be courageous; ask for assistance and support from family and friends. You may be pleasurably surprised!

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See what our clients have to say about working with us! We’ve been consulting with integrated health systems, ASCs and medical practices since 2003.