CURRENT CIRCULATION: 6918 DATE: 13 September 2005 ISSUE NO: 114

Welcome to Health & Lifes free email newsletter service. Tell a friend that we would be happy to add their email address to the distribution list. This service is to provide Health and Lifes clients and those who attended our presentations with up to date information on key financial and practice management issues at may affect your practice. Please do not use this as a substitute to seeking professional advice. Writer in charge: Mr David Dahm BA.Acc, FCPA, FTIA, Ffin, FAAPM, GLFG.

How to Get of Backstabbing and Practice Politics

Show Leadership People can size up a culture quickly. If they can see a benefit in undermining someones credibility a number of people will do it. That is why strong leadership is needed in any practice. What do you do? The Insiders rule book says Keep your head down and the boss happy It does not say anything about learning how your practice works as a practice. Open Book Management 1. Familiarise your staff with the Practices financial and operational information. Teach them how to use it. 2. Make sure everyone knows what your key competitors are up to and how your practice compares with them. This subtly reinforces the idea that the enemy is out there, not in here. 3. Give staff a clear idea of how the practice has got into the position it has by highlighting lessons learned, i.e. the things that have contributed to failure. Also highlight the fact that while some areas of the practice need substantial change, others are functioning well. Give examples such as all reception phone calls have been answered within 3 rings. Practice Managers or management (the Principals)

should take responsibility for failures but at the same time they should also report on how plans to fix the problem are progressing. Clearly communicate any necessary cuts or restructuring, framing the sacrifices in terms of how they will ensure the continued success of the practice. Fair Process Strong evidence suggests practice staff are supportive of change and consider tough decision to be fair. Keep staff regularly informed of progress. One way of doing this is to use the Practices internal email system to provide brief updates. Continue to seek their input. Ensure you consistently apply the decision criteria to individuals and time periods. Communicate decisions in a timely manner and create the perception that decisions are being made based on facts and sound reasoning. At the end of the day this process will: 1. Reduce negative political behavior 2. Encourage staff to embrace change Allow management to spend more time managing the changes that need to be implemented rather than in satisfying the political interests and needs of individuals which can compromise the future collective interest of the practice. Which topics would you like to be covered? If there is a particular topic that you would like covered in one of our future News Alerts, please email pa@healthandlife.com.au and let us know what it is. We will then endeavor to cover your requested topic. Do we have your email address? It is apparent in feedback we are receiving that there are persons receiving this regular email who are not on our email list. If you are receiving this email second-hand from another source, we would be delighted to receive your email address and we will add you to our database so that you can receive it first-hand on the day it is sent. This invitation is open to all Practices. Please send your email address to pa@healthandlife.com.au. Do you wish to unsubscribe from our list? Please email pa@healthandlife.com.au if you wish to be removed from our distribution list. Copyright Notice 2005 This email, including any attachments, is for the personal use of the recipient(s) only. Republication and re-dissemination, including posting to news groups or web pages, is strictly prohibited without the express prior consent of Health & Life Pty Ltd. Disclaimer Notice Health & Life Pty Ltds Best Practice News Alert is designed as a comprehensive and up-to-date Accounting, Practice Management and Healthcare news service to alert readers to the latest in Practice and related developments affecting the medical, dental and allied health professions as they happen. It is published when there is news to report. No responsibility can be accepted for those who act on its content without first consulting us or obtaining specific advice. Health and Life Pty Ltd Accounting, Tax, Practice Management and Healthcare Consulting Services. Looking after your future National Head Office: Level 5, 108 King William St, Adelaide SA 5000

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Which topics would you like to be covered? If there is a particular topic that you would like covered in one of our future News Alerts, please email pa@healthandlife.com.au and let us know what it is. We will then endeavour to cover your requested topic. Do we have your email address? It is apparent in feedback we are receiving that there are persons receiving this regular email who are not on our email list. If you are receiving this email second-hand from another source, we would be delighted to receive your email address and we will add you to our database so that you can receive it first-hand on the day it is sent. This invitation is open to all Medical Practices. Please send your email address to pa@healthandlife.com.au. Do you wish to unsubscribe from our list? Please email pa@healthandlife.com.au if you wish to be removed from our distribution list. Copyright Notice 2005 This email, including any attachments, is for the personal use of the recipient(s) only. Republication and re-dissemination, including posting to news groups or web pages, is strictly prohibited without the express prior consent of Health & Life Pty Ltd. Disclaimer Notice Health & Life Pty Ltds Best Practice News Alert is designed as a comprehensive and up-todate Accounting, Practice Management and Healthcare news service to alert readers to the latest in Practice and related developments affecting the medical, dental and allied health professions as they happen. It is published when there is news to report. No responsibility can be accepted for those who act on its content without first consulting us or obtaining specific advice.