Your Circle of Influence
“It takes tremendous discipline to control the influence, the power you have over other people’s lives.” –Clint Eastwood
Blog — Page 10
Practice management, team development, and multidisciplinary care.
390 articles · Page 10 of 20
The Need for Human Contact
To live a happy and healthy life, we need human contact. Unlike most mammals, human babies require an extended relationship with a nurturing parent to survive and thrive. From this earliest relationship to the myriad of relationships in your life today, the quality of your experience is greatly influenced by the quality of your relationships. These are constantly expanding as you grow from being someone’s child or sibling to be a friend, neighbor, confidant, partner, and more. Each of these relationships has its own unique set of dynamics, yet each has a profound effect on your life.
Give Your People What They Need This Year
Your employees will make or break you this year. What have you done to prepare them for success?
You Did That on Purpose!
The meaning behind this one simple childhood utterance can literally change your life… almost overnight.
Looking Deeper into Empathy
In his book Social Intelligence, the prolific social scientist Daniel Goleman talks in some depth about the latest findings on empathy. Specifically, Goleman speaks about three levels of empathy.
Honoring Life as It Is
A time comes in your life when you finally get it. When in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks, and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes, you begin to look at the world through new eyes.
Rapport – The Main Ingredient in Relationship Magic
The ability to establish rapport is a critical factor for the success of any relationship. Whether you are a parent, a partner, a chiropractor, or a practice team member, your ability to establish a state of rapport with the important people in your life can greatly enhance your ability to communicate and get things done.
The Problem With Trying To Fit In
As children, one of the first social lessons we learn is to fit in. Our parents, teachers, and peers tap into our innate social longing to be “part of the group” and subconsciously we learn to conform. We are taught only to speak when we are spoken to. We learn not to dress or look differently, or risk being picked on. We learn not to answer a question unless we are sure we are right. Anyone who stands out risks being ostracized.
The Power of “Priming”
For many years sports psychologists have recognized the importance of “mental preparation” in helping athletes perform optimally. A past client of mine was the performance coach for a major league sports franchise. He used to tell me that for elite athletes – who are so similar physically – it was their mental conditioning that contributed a full 85% to their overall performance.
Learning How to Laugh and Move Forward In Chaos
Those of you who know my family knows that this picture is of my daughter, Gianna. She was home without her sisters and this is what she was up to. When I had little ones at home I thought when they get a little older, my chaos will be less. Then they got a little older and a little more chaotic and I thought, surely, they will calm down as they get older. That would be a big NO. Then in the car, I am having a discussion with my middle child about why can’t she just do something I wanted her to do. She replies. “Mom, can’t you just be happy? I could be on drugs right now.” I just had to laugh.
Happiness
One of the ironies of our modern existence is that even though we in the developed world; have unprecedented levels of material well-being, are living longer than ever before, have access to all the food we could ever eat, and have ridiculous amounts of technology to “make our life easier”, collectively we are not appreciably happier than our predecessors. For many, our modern lives generate such high levels of stress and anxiety that we are living joyless lives of struggle, distraction, and excessive consumption that does not fill our hunger.
Live Your Passion
Most of us have been taught since childhood to fear passion and to view it as dangerous. We have been told that passion is dark and sinister, that it compels people to commit crimes in its name. That it is irrational and unpredictable. That it brings heartache and regret. We are conditioned to believe that the pursuit of passion is also the pursuit of pain and uncertainty. Why put everything on the line when the payoff might be a resounding failure or humiliation? Why take on risk when we can take a much safer and foreseeable path?
Make a Habit of Success
The world is a great place. It’s too bad there are so many people who see only unhappiness. Everywhere you turn, you find situations, people, and circumstances that would make your life miserable if you let them. You don’t have to pay keen attention to hear all the news about situations and people who are unhappy. If you allow it to, all this negativity can damage your success and your practice.
Leadership During Change
Leading your team through change requires that you lead from the front. You do this by setting an example. Create a compelling picture of the risks of not changing and a clear vision of the future. Then communicate your plan of action. Engage your team members by communicating your vision frequently. This process creates shared ownership of the actions required to manage the change.
Embracing Change
Embrace change by letting go of your need to have everything “just right.” You don’t have to have “all” of the pieces in place before you can proceed. More important than control is a flexible and open attitude toward change. Do what you have always done, and you’ll get what you have always gotten! Adopt an attitude of continuous learning. Attend seminars, read books, listen to audiocassettes.
Why a Mission Statement?
Your Mission Statement declares to the world your life’s work. It gives your practice team the clear direction they need to move in to reach their potential in your practice. It empowers your patients by giving them a clear picture of what they can expect to achieve. Your Mission Statement focuses you on priorities and away from distractions.
Create Your Mission Statement
As the popular film Jerry Maguire opens, the title character is wrestling with issues that make him question who he has become. These issues offend his values. In these opening scenes, sports agent Maguire goes so far as to say he hates himself – and then corrects himself to say he hates his place in the world. So, he writes what he calls a Mission Statement, “a suggestion for the future of our company.” Among the values in the Mission Statement are the “simple pleasures,” “protecting clients in health and injury,” “caring,” and being “me I always wanted to be.” He recalls his mentor, Dickie Fox, who said sports agentry is all about personal relationships.
What is the secret to success?
During a first call with of my new clients, the conversation went like this
Dealing with Conflict
How do you resolve conflicts between co-workers without quitting?
The Art of the Request
In the last few years as I have worked with practice owners and office managers to develop their leadership skills. I have misjudged the power of requesting and how a great request can move us more quickly towards our goals. For a long time, I thought requesting was a simple process. Ask, get, do. I have recognized that the art of requesting is one of the most important skills anyone can have.