Monthly Archives: December 2020

HOW TO LEAD A TEAM DURING PANDEMIC By: Sevil Harika

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By Sevil Harika

The COVID-19 pandemic touched and changed everyone’s lives in one way or another, and it has also made leaders’ jobs more difficult, especially those in healthcare. Leaders working on the front lines to fight COVID are faced with challenges that are greatly affecting their role as a leader. Being a leader on one of these teams, I have personally experienced how tough it is to lead my team day after day. How can we, leaders motivate team that had faced so much suffering and saw too many deaths? How are we able to get our team to perform at a high level, day after day? How do we do it?

 

A key to successfully leading a healthcare team during these difficult times is Awareness: awareness of yourself, awareness of your surroundings, and awareness of what your team feels. Tweaking your leadership skills to actively listen, support, and inspire, are the important components to a great leadership.

 

LISTEN – ACTIVELY

One of the most important skills of a leader is the ability to actively listen. During difficult times, especially during unforeseen times like the pandemic, this skill has become a necessity for us leaders. Mastering the skill of listening, will open the door to understanding what is not said. The ability to listen with an open mind in a way that you, as a leader can hear, see, and feel. Also, listen to read between the lines, and understand your team’s feelings, is the key that opens the door to the path of leading your team successfully.

 

SUPPORT – ALL HANDS-ON DECK

            During any difficult time, all hands-on deck is vital because we all need support, or a shoulder to lean on. So does your team. You MUST be the leader who will step in, pull up your sleeves, and be hands on. Your team needs your support! Being on the front line, next to the patient in bed, and doing it together with your team will boost the team’s morale. Your presence, even if it is silent, will speak very loudly and will have a great impact on your team performance. Besides the physical support, your team is also in need for emotional support. As a leader you must be strong and be that shoulder in need. Your team looks up to you and depends on you to pull through the difficult times. So, be that strong shoulder for your team to lean on.

 

INSPIRE

            Inspiring is the most difficult task of all. We all can guess the morale of a team who has seen so much suffering and death, despite their best efforts. The ability to inspire is critical in these moments. As a leader, you already know the power of positive feedback. Starting and ending the day with an inspirational quote and a simple thank you for each team member’s effort goes a long way. Acknowledging the bad outcomes but placing the main focus on the positive ones is a great approach to remind the team that their effort is well worth it. Celebrating each patient’s success as a team success marks the positivity to motive the team to continue towards success.

 

These simple steps: active listening, all hands-on deck and inspiring, can help all leaders to have a positive impact on their team members. A positive impact that is especially needed in these difficult times during COVID. Our country as a nation is dealing with the biggest challenges we have faced yet, but as leaders we need to be able to step up and help our team to lead the way into positivity. I know, I am not alone in this and there are many other healthcare and non-healthcare leaders that are faced with this challenge. What do you think? How would you lead your team through the pandemic?

Don’t get Arrested. I WILL Know! By: ChyTearra Kintchen

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Don’t get Arrested. I WILL Know!

What type of shows are you into?  Do you like Snapped?  What about Police Women of Maricopa County?  Or do you simply like to kickback after work and watch the 5 o’clock news?  Whatever you choose, that is my job every single day.  

So, what is it that I do?  I thought you would never ask!  My position is called a Magistrate Prep Clerk.  According to dictionary.com, magistrate court is “a court having limited jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal matters, as matters of contract not exceeding a particular amount of money”.  Simply put, magistrate is a court hearing you attend within the first 24 hours of your arrest in order to hear/receive a bond,  which is sometimes denied depending on the charge.  It is not a trial; it is not the time for you to talk about your charges or give your side of the story.  The hearing is only to make you aware of the charges and your bond.

The Process

Rain, sleet, snow, hurricanes, holidays, weekends, (I think you get the picture), magistrate court is held every single day, twice daily.  A team member of mine who gets the ball rolling is up at 2:15am getting paperwork from the jail.  The stack of paperwork is huge about 90% of the time; upwards of 100 defendants on the docket every day.  That paperwork is sorted into categories, by gender and type of charge.  It also must be separated from originals, which go to the clerk, and the copies, which the state attorney gets.

While that person is separating paperwork, I’m finally rolling out of bed with the help of my 2:45am alarm.  All the paperwork my team member separated then comes to me.  I am responsible for setting court dates for those who have warrants, violations of probation or community control, capias, etc.  I also make sure case numbers, judges, and name spelling is correct.  I see everything, everyone, way before the general public can get their hands on it, before the actual judge see it!  So don’t get arrested! I will know!  

The last member of the team is the clerk.  That is the person who sits in the actual court proceeding, fills out the docket, does orders, and so much more.  That person is the official record keeper of what happened in magistrate court on that day with that judge, and the other members that are in court.  The clerk comes in at 6:30am to prep the magistrate docket, prep orders, find new case numbers, and other miscellaneous things that will make being in court run a little smoother.

Organization

Without the three members that work together to make magistrate run successfully, there would be no criminal court.  It is the very beginning of everything.  No matter if it is something as small as a driving license suspended charge, capital murder, everyone is entitled to a bond hearing.  

All members of the team work closely with pre-trial, state attorneys, the public defenders, and of course, the magistrate judge.  We sacrifice sleep, we sacrifice our weekends, and quite frankly, our lives.  While the world was shut-down dealing with COVID-19 concerns, court still had to go on.  While the area is dealing with natural disasters, we still must leave our families, go out at ridiculous times of the morning, praying to make it to work safe and on time.  Our sacrifices and teamwork keep the courthouse criminal system running continuously.  

I love my job.  I have been at it for eight years now.  I have seen a lot; I know a lot.  But the best part of the job is, I KNOW IF YOU GOT ARRESTED!

4 Tips to Manage a Virtual Team and Succeed By: Sofia Mastrodomenico Rodriguez

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Author: Sofia Mastrodomenico

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Are you managing an agile virtual team? Is this starting to be difficult? Well, you should keep reading this blog. COVID-19 has arrived to change our lives. This pandemic has revolutionized the way how we see life, and hence the way human interactions are made. The COVID-19 outbreak affects almost every single aspect of human life. The global economy, human socialization, travel worldwide, and the corporate work dynamic are part of the main aspects affected by this contagious virus. Due to the lack of an accessible vaccine, the way we used to live before seems to be a good memory in our minds. Wearing a mask, stay 6 feet apart, and work from home are part of the new habits followed by almost all citizens of the world.

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced multiple companies to re-allocate their operations and change the way they work. Thousands of companies worldwide are now allowing their employees to work from home.  That was not really popular among traditional companies a few years ago. Telecommuting has existed for decades, but it was not until the quarantine that people considered it as a legitimate way of working. Big and small corporations worldwide have closed their offices to avoid the spread of the virus among their employees. A fact that has forced them to establish a working from home norm. This “new normal” has revolutionized the way  managers lead teams, and how employees execute their normal daily tasks. As with any imposed change, this new way of working has not been well accepted by all managers, as it requires them to reorganize the way they manage and lead. However, no matter your position about the topic, you can always make it work.

1.Accept the new normal

The first thing that a manager should do is to accept that this new normal will stay for more months or maybe a whole year. By accepting it and making it work, managers adapt their teams to keep competitive and efficient. Managers have to recognize that working from home can also offer a lot of benefits. By taking leverage on these benefits, managers can improve the way how their teams perform.

2.Maximize Flexibility

Managers should understand that working from home can be challenging for some employees, specifically those who have their kids at home. Homeschooling is also one of the new challenges that people are facing due to this pandemic. For example, employees could have trouble joining meetings or speaking during them just because their children are around them. Employees could also have trouble joining a meeting because something important is taking place during their kid’s zoom classes or because they have to feed them. As all this will occur unexpectedly, managers should be flexible and emphatic. Managers should maybe try to reschedule those meetings to a time when all can attend. They should also accept if their employees can work in a different schedule, maybe during the evening (Open Door Policy). This act of flexibility will help managers to improve their relationship with their employees as well as maximize their performance and keep their level of motivation high. By managing interruptions proactively, managers will demonstrate respect and empathy. Of course, employees should also be proactive and responsible.

3.Communicate, Communicate and Communicate

Daily meetings, chats, and emails are part of the channels that managers can use to keep active communication with their employees. Talk to them about what are they doing, what they are going to do, and ask them if they have any blockers to finish their tasks. Ask them how they are, how everything at home is. This will help you to know if that person will be able to finish their tasks. Be clear about the goals and deadlines. If they have to work during the weekend accept it, considering that your main goal as a manager is to accomplish the goals of the project. Try to schedule virtual meetings so you can talk to them directly. Try to use video so you can see their body language. Sometimes chats or emails can cause misunderstanding that during a call you can avoid. Communicate what you need from them and also ask them what they are needing from you. As a manager, you need to facilitate the whole work, and also make it work. In the end, you are evaluated over their performance results.

4.Work Smart and do not micromanage

Managers should avoid micromanaging as they can make their employees feel that there is a lack of trust. It can be also stressful for them as they could be going through one of the issues expressed in point #2. Managers should focus on outcomes rather than visible hours worked. If employees are getting their work done and on time, why do you need to have them seated in front of the computer for 10 hours per day? Nowadays, the work style is irrelevant. Managers should focus on timing and results. Just make it work, for them and for you.    

Conflict Resolution for Food Service Managers By: Zohaib Tahir

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Conflict Resolution for Food Service Managers By: Zohaib Tahir

 

Conflict Resolution for Food Service Managers

When humans interact, conflict will inevitably arise, and it does not have to be all bad news. Some situations can end up becoming essential to team building. The impact of conflict on an organization can either be functional or dysfunctional. The minor conflicts have created opportunities to address employee concerns that otherwise would be overlooked. Employees having a shouting match during a rush is one such example of dysfunction conflict. Unresolved work-related issues are not suitable for business. Workplace friction of any kind will have a negative monetary impact down the road. To properly handle such situations, follow few rules of thumb I have picked throughout the years.

 

 

1- Location Location📍

Before any resolution can happen, pick a location where both parties feel relaxed to be themselves, so take them away from other coworkers’ ears and eyes. that gives people time to scale back their emotions. You cannot have any conflict resolution during the heat of the moment arguments.

 

2- Alpha 🦁

Recognize your position as a leader in the room. Do not try to be their friend. It never works. Set rules of exchange, no insulting language or inflammatory remarks.

 

3- Listen👂

Let them speak uninterrupted one at a time, that includes you only listening.

4- Shared Needs

Focus on employee shared and individual wants and needs. Try to get to the bottom of the problem. There are times when the anxiety and pressure of interacting with people are too much to handle. It can be as simple as letting people cool off and focus on operations rather than conflict resolution. Do they need more help on the floor or another cook? These can also because of indirect conflict.

 

5- Be Patient⏲

Allow time to absorb the information presented. Remember, you are not making any decisions until the very last step. Do not focus on past failures; that is not the time to bring up past grievances.

 

6- BrainStrom🧐

Create options that work to enhance the work environment for all involved. Use a brainstorming session if need be to come up with ideas.

7- Commitment

Remind employees of their shared commitment to a healthy and safe workplace.

 

8- Finish Line🏁

The end goal should always be a beneficial agreement for the organization, resulting in greater cooperation between employees when there was none before.