I work in set 45-minute time slots.
That does not mean everything has to be completed in 45 minutes or less. It means that I work solidly for 45 minutes.
Each and every time.
Why?
Personally I can’t fully concentrate for more than that amount of time.
But the real question is not what do I put into those 45 minutes? The real question is how much EFFORT do I put into the 45 minutes?
100%
For example, a clinic list arrived yesterday evening. I knew it was arriving because that particular client has a clinic on a Monday evening. It needs checking, invoicing and recording the next day.
After all, that is what I get paid to do.
It’s also the action that will generate the most revenue for me
So, the previous evening I’d entered into my ICAL a 45-minute time slot for today.
Start and don’t stop.
Once you start a task, do NOT stop.
Don’t stop until you have completed the task. All of it. Personally, I won’t even talk to anybody. My email is set so I don’t get an alert every time an email arrives.
All distractions are removed.
It’s the proverbial do not disturb sign not just in my office but also in my head.
45 minutes later or sometimes even less, I’ve finished the task completely. All of it.
So I reward my self with a coffee or I check the BBC news for 15 minutes. Or I’ll book some cinema tickets. Whatever.
15 minutes later, I’ll start again.
And won’t stop until that task is 100% completed.
This second task could be ringing patients. It could be checking my emails. Might even be logging onto the bank. It matters what the task or tasks are.
What matters is within those 45 minutes, I’m working as efficiently as I can.
For maximum financial reward.
Achieved nothing today
It always makes me smile when I hear that.
Normally its followed by the statement “I’ve worked flat out today but got nothing done”
The most likely cause is that distractions have been allowed.
Don’t let them.
Outcome
In terms of medical billing, that specific task is ALWAYS first.
Because the outcome of this specific task generates the most revenue for me.
So, in terms of outcome what are you doing today and does it lead to the maximum benefit for you?
If it does, start it and don’t stop.
If it does NOT, what are you doing it for?
pete@medicalhealthcaremanagement.co.uk