Resolutions for the New Year
Good Manners Are Vital to Good Business

Every year at this time, conversations turn to New Year's "resolutions." We often find ourselves looking ahead and reflecting on the past year.

As MED prepares to be your number one recruiting choice in 2005, we hope that we have lived up to our past year's resolutions. As you continue to tackle all of your staffing needs and meet the ever-demanding changes in healthcare, MED is excited and ready to answer your call.

Let us help keep your staffing "resolutions" in 2005. We extend our warm wishes for a safe, healthy and fully staffed New Year.

Good Manners Aren't Just About Saying "Please" and "Thank You"

As the MED recruiters embark on another year of staffing, we vow to turn up the level of good manners in and outside our office. Good manners aren't just about saying, "please", "thank you", or "I'm sorry".

While all of these gestures make for a professional and civilized workplace, good manners espouse much more than that. Good manners are vital in our face to face encounters as well as phone and email contacts.

Here are some quick tips on using manners, in the workplace.

1. When an apology is called for, say it. If unable to do it in person, a telephone call or a handwritten note will have a big impact and convey your sincere feelings. Avoid an email; it's too impersonal.

2. Say "thank you" more often. A telephone thank you is effective and should be made within 24 hours (otherwise it comes across as an afterthought). Just like the aforementioned apology, a handwritten thank you is the most meaningful.

3. All employees like to hear praise. Of course, the compliment should not be snide or exaggerated. Staff should be complimented when they do a good job, go out of their way for patients or coworkers, or meet a deadline.

4. Proper introductions count. Make sure to use the person's name properly when doing an introduction. Slow down, articulate and use full names. Introduce all of the employees rather than just managers, physicians and high-level staff members. Introduce them by name as well as what they do for the practice/company. These types of introductions will enhance customer service and the manager-employee relationship.

According to Postini, Inc., an email security industry leader, there are approximately 170 million corporate electronic mailboxes in use. So, how about our electronic manners -- are we being overly rude or curt? This checklist is a good way to take stock of email etiquette.

1. Address the recipient by name. While not absolutely required, it is a nice touch to address your email recipient by name in a greeting located in the body of your message. This not only lends a more human and personalized feel, it can help the recipient verify that it is in fact a legitimate message from you and not some virus laden email generated unknowingly from your address book.

2. Do not send generic messages. Viruses often go hand in hand with generic messages. Those of us who know this may delete an email before even reading any further or may be unwilling to click on an attachment. When sending an attachment make reference to it in the body of the message and explain what it is.

3. Make the subject line count! Clicking the reply button and using the same old irrelevant subject line is not the best practice (unless of course it is relevant).

4. Don't use all caps when typing your message. This is considered shouting and is difficult to read. Watch those fonts as well, 10 or 12 font size is standard and easy on the eyes.

5. Use the spell checker. As in any written correspondence, typos can detract from the company image and project a less than professional impression.

6. Set up a signature file. Usually within the client software there is a place to establish a signature file, which can contain your name, title, business name, phone, Web site and often even a little marketing message.

7. Remember that some things that you write may sound totally different to your recipient. Just like any conversation or telephone call, avoid writing an email when emotions are running high. Be cognizant of how you may be coming across and who is on the receiving end of your email.

8. Don't assume that the recipient of your message has all of the same software programs that you do. This can cause frustration and waste valuable time.

9. Emails are no substitute for a friendly phone call or reminder. Emails are quick and convenient, but make sure that a phone call is used for confirmation, cancellation and just a way to stay in touch.

Source: Baldridge, Letitia. Complete Guide to Executive Manners. Simon & Schuster: 1993. New York.

Contact M.E.D. for all Your Medical Staffing Needs

M.E.D.'s qualified staff is available 24/7 to ensure you have the staffing resources to run your business. Call us today!

West Port office: (314) 991-8806

Visit our web site at www.medstl.com