The business of health care and those in risk management refer to resilience as a process or procedure for handling emergencies. It’s a big part of disaster preparedness which covers what should be done before, during and after a disaster. Rather it be man-made or a natural disaster, businesses can’t afford to be down and non-operational. In health care, the stakes are even higher. Human life is on the line.

With resilience being so important in the business world, why isn’t more focus applied to community issues or personal challenges that seem to be forever present? How adaptive are these best practices? What if resilience could be increased through awareness? If individuals used resilience as a tool and it was available to all, maybe, just maybe more people would be better equipped when the expected or unforeseen complexity stands before them. Sometimes a little reminder is needed – You are Resilient!

What’s your take on this? How can individuals prepare for their own resiliency plan? Let me hear from you!

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There are days when you just don’t feel like doing anything. When suggestions that would normally have you jumping for joy don’t even amuse you. Hey, why fight it. This feeling is quite common. It occurs to many at one point or another in their lives. What can become an issue, is when it doesn’t go away.

When this feeling is allowed to rule the day, action has to be taken to put it in its place. Take a look at what it really is. It comes to you, presenting its self as a harmless part of life. Don’t succumb to the enticement. It is there to rob you blind. It will steal all the joy, intention, and activity from you. It will suck you dry. Some call it depression. Regardless of the name, it must be rid from your dwelling place.

My coaching clients and I have found the resiliency trait of courage to be instrumental in times like this. Courage is like an onion, it has many layers. As the layers are peeled back, you get to the center and you will find desire. The desire to improve your current disposition. This is what helps you take the first step towards freedom. It’s probably pretty small. It may only be a glimmer. That’s OK – not much is needed. A lot can be built on desire. Such as hope. As the bud of increased self-esteem blossoms around hope, it becomes the foundation for confidence and courage. You will not be deceived. You get clarity around the issues that bind activity and decide how to manage them. You are resilient!

Remember, when just enough is not enough, that’s when it’s time to B.E.L.I.E.V.E.

As you may know, I’m the president of the National Speakers Association/Northern California. Our mission is to inspire quality and professionalism in both speaking and business development for those who use the platform in their work. The following article was written and published in the Fall 2009 issue of Professionally Speaking magazine to encourage our members and readers to remember possibilities. I hope you are inspired to remember possibilities as well.

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Children have an amazing talent – they know how to get what they want! Without any guidance from adults, they literally see possibilities and do not hesitate to try new things to get the result they’re looking for. Want proof? Go to a park or visit a playground on a sunny day. Nine times out of ten you will witness strategic planning and negotiations galore right on the blacktop, near the slide or the swings. Why? Most of the children playing are unaware of doubt, fear and self-imposed limitations – the things that typically rule the day for adults. Children embrace their intuition and insight while allowing creativity to flow. They really know how to Shake It Up!

Can you imagine what would happen if we allowed ourselves the freedom to see possibilities in our relationships and the work we do? With our knowledge and skills, especially when we collaborate with others, new ideas could be explored to foster better solutions for the situations we face. The benefits are endless. We can make this a reality by accepting a little-known fact: a change in perspectives may occur.

The possibility perspective does not let doubt, fear or self-imposed limitations impact decision making. Clouds of doom and gloom are not over our heads. We are smart and talented. We have what it takes to not only see the possibilities that are before us, but also to take advantage of them.

Opportunities for better possibilities exist. I know what some of you are thinking and I’m inclined to agree: exploring possibilities involves risk. Ahh, but the reward! The risk of freedom to expand your thoughts and do things you only imagined is well worth it. It’s OK to risk being right; to believe in your ability to see the array of possibilities around you; to do something differently. 

Whenever you want a fresh take on negotiation or intuitive skills, go out and watch children play. You’ll be surprised at what you can learn. Who knows, you may take a few pointers from the playground to the boardroom. Just remember to Shake It Up!

By Karen Walker-Tunoa

If you were born in the early 1960’s or before, you’ll probably remember the hit TV series called M*A*S*H that aired from 1972 to 1983. It was about the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital staff that were placed on the front-lines during the Korean war. They found laughter was the best way to deal with their situation, although much of their time was spent in triage. Triage is the determination of priorities for action based on the likely benefit of immediate medical treatment. It literally can mean the difference between life and death of a patient. Although controversial, it’s proven to be so effective it’s been used on battlefields and when necessary, even during local disasters in emergency departments throughout the world.

Triage patients are divided into three groups according to the severity of their injuries: 1) Those who will survive only with immediate treatment; 2) Those who will survive without treatment; 3) Those who will not survive with or without treatment. This process is controversial, however many believe it maximizes the number of lives saved.

Suppose, just for a moment, triage was taken into the world of business. What if the process of triage was used to determine priority for projects and activities? What affect might this have on productivity? What would this look like?

Using Results Triage will give businesses the ability to quickly and accurately identify issues of a situation that are in need of immediate improvement as a way to stop the bleeding of non-performance and get better results by focusing resources on the most beneficial projects. Here’s how Results Triage can be applied:

Result Group 1:

The accurate completion of this project will significantly advance the company’s bottom-line, reputation, and exposure to new business by improving effectiveness.  

Result Group 2:

The completion of this project will not impact the company; status quo remains.  

Result Group 3:

The completion of this project may actually cost the company in wasted work-hours due to lack of efficiencies within the project; it’s like throwing good money after bad, it only feeds a few egos with little, if any, contribution to the bottom-line.

To obtain outstanding results, focus on the Result Group 1 projects. This means little time is allotted for Result Group 2 and there may be a need to cut the losses of Result Group 3. This may be a tough call when emotions fuel the projects, however necessary.

I also recommend individuals Result Triage their own professional activities. Ask questions such as, is the item you spent the last two hours working on classified as a Result Group 1, 2, or 3? Is the outcome impactful, beneficial, or just “busy” work which offers no true value?

Take for example a sales force concentrating on the merits of a Result Group 1 project. Goals are being met, deliverables are on time, and profits are made. However, that same sales force can spend the same concentrated effort on a Result Group 3 project and not have success. Why? The Result Group 3 project, might at one time have been a good idea, but no longer offers the same benefits.

Many times organizations don’t analyze projects frequently enough to determine if they are worth pursuing. Results Triage can improve a company’s effectiveness and accelerate productivity, just as medical triage saves more lives in the emergency room and on the battlefield.

For your next project, include triage competency in the job description for the manager. Establish the rules for engagement from the start. Make sure result groups are identified on a regular basis and have the courage to say “no” to a project that has turned into a Result Group 3. If you have the courage and discipline to apply triage to your business as I’ve described, your teams will be laughing along with Radar, Hawkeye, and Klinger as they deliver outstanding results.

Have a comment? I’m waiting to hear from you!