ORLANDO CHAPTER NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2014
Top 10 Resolutions for Your Possible New Year
5 More New Year's Resolutions for People Who Work
By Susan M. Heathfield
New Year's resolutions top many to-do lists each holiday season. The New Year is a beginning so
new goals and resolutions, new plans, new dreams and new directions fuel your thoughts. Here
are ten New Year's resolutions for people who work for businesses and organizations.
Write out your New Year's resolutions and you will restore, revitalize and renew your spirit to
take advantage of all the possibilities of the New Year. May your New Year's resolutions help you
make this year your best year ever.
Be good to yourself this year. Promise that you will:
Do something you love to do, and that you do best, every single day. In their landmark
book, First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently (compare
prices). Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman of the Gallup organization discovered this critical
factor in interviews with 80,000 managers. For their interviews, they narrowed down the
questions asked to the twelve that most clearly appeared to define happy, motivating,
productive workplaces.
These were the first three:
1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?
People who could answer these questions affirmatively were more likely to be happy and
productive. Get passionate about your work. Do something you do best every day.
1. Do something just for you every single day. As a manager or business professional, you
can get caught up in doing for others during every minute of your work day. If you have family
members who occupy the off-work hours, this problem is compounded.
Resolve to set time aside for yourself every day to exercise, relax, reflect, cook a gourmet
dinner, eat ice cream, write in a journal, garden, walk your pet or do any other activity that
takes your fancy. Just make sure the activity is different than what you already do all day long.
You will feel as if you have a life.
2. Give yourself credit and a pat on the back when you deserve it. In the Gallup study
cited earlier, this question defined the most productive workplaces. People who had received
praise or recognition for their work in the past seven days were more happy and productive.
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In this era of empowered employees and broad spans of managerial control, you are less likely
to have frequent interaction with your boss. Thus, it is important that you recognize yourself for
excellent efforts. One way to do this is to keep a file of positive notes, thank you letters and
reminders of successful ventures. I call mine, “Neat Things.” Stop to assess success after each
project you complete.
3. Strive to learn something new every single day. It is easy to get bogged down in the
same old, same old. Read an article; discuss a new approach with a colleague; research what
other organizations are doing on the Web. The opportunities for learning are multiplying every
day in this information age.
4. Make professional contacts and network. Look up colleagues with whom you have lost
touch. Make sure you attend at least one professional meeting each month. You will benefit from
the friendships and relationships you develop from active participation. It is not enough to join.
My first five recommendations for positive, life-enhancing New Year's resolutions will make your
year. This second five recommended New Year's resolutions will seal your success.
5. Practice professional courage by stepping out of your comfort zone. You know when
you are in your comfort zone. An issue occurs. You hear yourself making up excuses in your
mind about why you don’t need to speak, or why taking a stand on an issue will get you in
trouble.
Just once, when you find yourself in this situation, state what you are really thinking. After the
shock wears off, your coworkers will admire you. It is so important that organization members
provide honest feedback and participate in needed conflict to improve your products or services
for customers.
Once you have begun breaking through your own self-imposed barriers, you will find that stating
your mind gets easier and easier. Why? Because you will find you survived the experience. In
fact, your career may thrive as a result of you leaving your comfortable home.
Most people who practice professional courage, expected the worst, but found they were
rewarded for their new stance. If you find yourself getting beaten up instead, perhaps it’s time
to look for different employment. After all, wouldn’t you really rather work where you can safely
speak your mind?
6. Listen more than you talk. The old adage about one mouth and two ears is generally true.
As a manager, you spend much of your time in problem-solving activities and efforts. Plan this
year, to listen to all that your coworkers are saying; they may want a sounding board, not
advice or problem solving.
You may find you don’t have to take the monkeys on your back. Your listening may empower
them to solve their own problems. When they feel completely heard out and listened to, they
are more likely to move from stuck to action. In Stephen Covey’s words, seek first to
understand, then to be understood.
7. Develop a method to track your life goals, your daily engagements, and you’re to do
list. Using a planner, whether in Microsoft Office Outlook, Google Calendar, or on your
smartphone, allows you to empty much of the daily detail from your mind. This gives your mind
room for more important thinking.
Whether you choose a paper method or an electronic method, tracking your daily activities
against your most important goals is critical. You do want to ensure you accomplish your most
important priorities. Right?
8. Read voraciously to continue to learn and grow. I aim to read a couple of business
books a month plus periodicals, online journals and the Wall Street Journal daily. I don’t always
reach that goal, but it’s always there for me. Try to read widely and broadly. Get out of the
business books once in awhile to see how other subjects enhance your point of view.
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9. Take up a new hobby or activity this year. Maybe this is the year you begin your
collection. My husband recently renewed his interest in amateur radio. (Unfortunately, he tells
me we don’t have enough antennas - BIG antennas!) I have started to write a cooking website.
If something has always intrigued you and piqued your interest, resolve to take the first steps in
participating this year. You’ll add a new dimension to your world.
10. Take yourself a little less seriously. As we strive for business success, we can get
bogged down in serious deliberation, advising and problem solving. Take time to laugh. Take
time to smell cookies and bread baking.
Smile when you hear stories about what all of your crazy employees are doing; you don’t need
to be the mom or dad all the time. Enjoy them for all their little quirks and differences. (Okay, I
misled you. For those of you who counted, there are actually eleven resolutions here, and I can’t
bear to give up any of the earlier ones. Is this an example of get a life?)
With warm regards, and great best wishes for your success, I wish you a happy, healthy,
prosperous, outstanding New Year as you adopt these New Year's resolutions and add a few
more of your own.
PAHCOM Shares Knowledge!
Founded in 1988, PAHCOM is a national organization dedicated to promoting professionalism in
physician office practice management by providing professional development opportunities including
continuing education, networking, online tools & resources, and nationally recognized certification
(CMM) for health care office managers.
Upcoming February Meetings
I. Topic :Legal Monday: Richard J. Brooderson PHD healthcare trial Attorney
Date: Monday, February 10, 2014 at 6:30 PM
Location: Orange County Bar Association 880 N. Orange Ave Orlando FL 32801
II. Topic: Trust, Then Verify: Preventing Employee Theft and Other illegal Activities:
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 12:00pm
Location: So Napa Grille 640 South Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751
For more information on joining PAHCOM please call Alberto Cobian (Membership
Director) 321-231-520 for visit www.PAHCOMORLANDO.com
You can RSVP on line RSVP: Attn: Yesenia Mosher Fax to 407-288-8639 or Via Email to
PAHCOMorl@gmail.com
Options and comments above are the sole opinions of the author and may not represent PAHCOM’s point of view
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