Tag: Sarah Hanna

Q. How do I combat burnout and stay motivated in my position after experiencing the challenges of 2020?  A. During stressful and uncertain times, burnout in the workplace hits an all-time high. Understanding burnout and steps to move through it is key to improving your motivation. First let’s identify some common signs of burnout: reduced efficiency and energy; increased errors and frustration; suspiciousness; fatigue and headaches; more time spent working with less being accomplished.  Moving...

Q. I have so much on my “to-do” list that I get overwhelmed and end up not accomplishing the important things. How do I determine the priorities so I can hit my goals?A. You are not alone in feeling overwhelmed from too many items on your list. New tasks are added daily while others seem to stay without any movement. Continual prioritization is needed to ensure you are addressing the most important and timely items.When prioritizing, be sure to include meetings that are scheduled to know...

Q. How do I keep my team motivated in times of stress and the unknown? A. When people discuss motivating employees, most think in terms of gifts, parties, rewards, pay increases, etc. However, there are other ways of encouraging staff that last longer than the “hit” of dopamine the brain releases from a “feel good” moment/activity. Don't get me wrong, those rewards are needed for a short-term boost, but what builds long-term motivation and loyalty, especially in stressful...

Q. How do I know I'm leading my staff in a manner that fosters loyalty and commitment to the company's mission and goals?A. Determining what your team thinks of you as a leader is not an easy task. It requires getting honest and constructive feedback about your strengths, weaknesses and areas of improvement, as well as their needs. Therefore, they need to feel safe in their ability to be truthful in their opinions without fear of repercussions. You also need to be the person who can hear the good,...

With COVID-19 permeating every aspect of our lives and our media experience, we look for the good in our communities and continue to celebrate the front-line workers: health care staff, truckers, grocery store clerks, gas station attendants and the list continues. They are the heroes tirelessly working so we can stay at home and abide by the shelter and place orders. Have you wondered about the “sidekicks” who are behind the scenes making sure the heroes and heroines have what they need...

Most everyone is familiar with the saying “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” To stop the insanity, how do we get different results?  One word “CHANGE.”   The problem with change is that it's hard and it's scary, but without it we can never realize our true potential.In business, change invigorates and excites me.  Admittedly, that wasn't always the case, but as I have grown and (“ahem”…aged)...

Recently, while talking with a friend/business adviser about expanding my business, we discussed some areas that I had ventured into in the last year. The topic of the conversation revolved around budget allocation for this expansion. I know what you are thinking, “yawn.” During our conversation, he asked me my thoughts on the marketplace in which I was making my move. I knew I could do what needed to be done to make it successful, but as we continued to talk about the costs and steps...

Sarah Hanna, CEO of ECS North, has been nominated by an employee for a Patriot Award. To make a nomination, an employee must serve in the National Guard or Reserve, or have a spouse who is a guard or reserve member. The award reflects the efforts made to support members through a wide-range of measures, including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed. Award winners receive a certificate and accompanying lapel pin…The...

The making of New Year's resolutions is a customary tradition on Dec. 31. As the ball drops and the New Year is upon us, we look for ways to improve ourselves and our companies in a variety of ways. One resolution that should make the top of your list is improving your overall collections. With reimbursement levels at an all-time low, collections turnaround is more important than ever. Most people give up on their New Year's resolutions by March. We go into the challenge with hope, faith and determination....

ATLANTA - Keeping an HME company in the black is a daunting proposition in the hardscrabble business environment of recent years, but four of Medtrade's best instructors say it can be done despite the pitfalls providers constantly face.Gaining “wiggle room” with margins and improving cash flow can be a reality if providers focus on two key areas, they say: reducing days sales outstanding levels and leveraging technology. By ensuring that deductibles are collected, claims are consistently...