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A walk along the road:
my reflective blog

Time management tips for busy nurse managers

Nurse Manager
As a nurse manager, you have a lot on your plate, and it can be overwhelming to manage your time effectively. However, by prioritising tasks, delegating responsibilities, setting realistic goals, and taking breaks, you can ensure that your unit runs smoothly and your patients receive the best possible care. Here are some additional tips to help you manage your time:
  1. Schedule your day: Creating a schedule can help you stay on track and ensure that you have enough time to complete all of your tasks. Block out time for important tasks and try to stick to your schedule as much as possible.
  2. Avoid multitasking: While it may seem like multitasking is an efficient way to get things done, it can actually be counterproductive. Instead, focus on one task at a time and give it your full attention.
  3. Communicate effectively: Clear communication with your team can help ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals. This can help avoid misunderstandings and save time in the long run.
  4. Learn to say no: As a nurse manager, you may be asked to take on additional tasks or responsibilities. However, it's important to know your limits and be willing to say no when necessary. This can help you avoid overcommitting and ensure that you have enough time to focus on your core responsibilities.
By following these additional tips, you can manage your time effectively and ensure that you are providing the best possible care for your patients.
For more information check out my video https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cCfRC6hwtoE

Take control of your negative self-talk


Negative self-talk
As a manager, it is important to understand how negative self-talk can impact your work and your team. Negative self-talk can lead to decreased confidence, increased stress, and ultimately, burnout.

Here are some tips to help you manage negative self-talk:

  1. Recognise negative self-talk: Start by identifying when you're engaging in negative self-talk. Pay attention to your thoughts and notice when you're being overly critical or pessimistic.

Here are a few thoughts that may help shift a pessimistic perspective:
  • Remember that everything is temporary. Even if you're going through a tough time now, it won't last forever.
  • Focus on the things you can control. Sometimes it's easy to get bogged down by things that are out of our control, but try to shift your focus to the things you can do something about.
  • Practice gratitude. Even when things aren't going well, there are always things to be grateful for. Take a few minutes to think about what you're thankful for in your life.
  • Reach out for help. If you're really struggling, don't hesitate to reach out to a friend, family member, or professional for support. You don't have to go through it alone.

If negative self-talk is having an impact on you please try these actions daily;
  1. Reframe your thoughts: Once you've identified negative self-talk, consciously reframe your thoughts into more positive, realistic ones. For example, instead of thinking "I'm not doing a good job," try "I'm doing the best I can with the resources available."
  2. Practice self-compassion: Give yourself the same kindness and understanding you would offer to a friend. Remember that everyone makes mistakes and has areas for improvement.
  3. Seek support: Don't be afraid to seek support from colleagues, mentors, or a coach. Talking through your challenges with someone else can help you gain perspective and develop coping strategies.
By managing negative self-talk, you can improve your leadership skills and create a more positive work environment for your team.
For more information check out my video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROf-ZbwFJ4g

What are your core values? The basis of being an authentic leader.

One of the key characteristics of authentic leadership is self-awareness. Authentic leaders have a deep understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses, and are not afraid to admit when they make mistakes. They are also able to be vulnerable with others, which helps to build trust and foster deeper connections. Read More…

Thinking about self-awareness - the value of feedback

Self-awareness is a crucial trait for effective leadership. A leader who is self-aware understands their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. This knowledge allows them to make decisions that align with their values and goals, while also being mindful of how their actions impact others. Read More…

Would coaching work for you?

Coaching is a personalised process that helps individuals set goals, identify challenges, and create action plans to achieve them. It can be used for personal or professional development, and is often used in the workplace to improve employee performance. Coaching can be conducted in various formats, including in-person, over the phone, or via video conferencing. Benefits of coaching include increased self-awareness, improved decision-making, enhanced problem-solving skills, greater confidence and resilience, and improved performance. Coaching is not a substitute for therapy or medical treatment, but can be used in various industries and contexts to improve outcomes. It is essential to find a coach who is the right fit for you and your goals.
Read More…

Learning to be grateful

Leadership is not just about taking charge and making decisions. It’s also about creating a positive work environment where employees feel valued and appreciated. One way to do that is by expressing gratitude. Read More…

The being busy trap

Be productive

Today’s walk along the road was achieved by careful timing and watching the clouds to avoid the rain. I found myself wondering about a conversation I had last week about the language we use in work situations relating to how busy we all are.

I caught myself saying that I had ‘back to back meetings all day’ not sure if I was looking for admiration or pity.

The fact that I could feel the uncomfortableness of the fact, combined with an annoyance with myself for getting into this situation collided and I adopted a resigned to accept it outlook.

With the time to reflect today – I wonder how often I willingly allow myself to get into the too busy being busy mode.

The day goes so quickly – for sure ! Some around may marvel at my revolving office door and the constant foot fall ….

When I reflect on what I achieved during my day of meetings it is clear little or any of it could truly be called ‘deep work’ – in contrast to what is described as ‘shallow work’ – those non-productive meetings, constant interruptions and non-stop emails ‘just for information’ which force us to ‘multi-task’ which we know reduced productivity by 40%!

Just imagine if you could increase your meaningful and impactful work by 40% just by making the space to focus on the activities that actually matter.

If you can identify with my week – This useful audit of your time is worth doing. Honestly ask yourself the following questions

1 - How much of your time is spent running the day to-day versus shaping the future?

2 - How much of your time is spent reacting to what others in the organization bring to you, rather than driving the top team’s agenda?

3 - How often do your strategic discussions lead you to make hard choices about your company’s future?

4 - How much time do you spend reviewing actions after the fact versus proactively shaping actions and a direction?

5 - How often do you spend time debating who is responsible for solving an issue rather than addressing it?

6 - How often do you and other members of the leadership team work together on issues?

Ok - time to go before the rain starts again and I have a lot to do !
April 2023
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