Download Presentation

Personal Qualities of a
Health Care Worker
And…
“Soft Skills”






Studies have shown that a large percentage
of young people preparing to enter the
workforce are significantly lacking in “Soft
Skills” that will help them become successful
employees such as:
Teamwork
Decision-Making
Communication Ability
A Strong Work Ethic
Initiative





Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
Leadership
Professionalism
Flexibility (ability to adapt to change)
Enthusiasm/Attitude
Personal and Professional
Characteristics


Certain personal attitudes, values, and rules
of appearance apply to all healthcare
professions.
It is an appearance that inspires confidence
and a positive self-image.
Personal and Professional
Characteristics

Research shows that within twenty seconds
to 4 minutes people form an impression
about a person based on their appearance.
Personal Appearance


In health care it is importance to have a
clean, neat and professional appearance.
Know what is rules are established at your
place of employment.
Professional Appearance









Uniforms
Clothing
Name Badge
Shoes
Personal hygiene
Nails
Hair
Jewelry
Make up
Personal Characteristics


Many personal/professional characteristics
and attitudes are required in health
occupations.
Make every effort to develop the following
characteristics and incorporate them into your
personality.
Personal Characteristics

Empathy – being able to understand another
persons feelings, situation, and motives
Personal Characteristics

Honesty – truthfulness and integrity are
important in any career
Personal Characteristics

Dependability – employers and patients rely
on you, so you must accept responsibility by
being prompt to work and doing your job
accurately and timely
Personal Characteristics

Willingness
to learn –
You must
be willing to
adapt to
change.
Change often
requires learning
new techniques
or procedures.
Personal Characteristics


Patience – tolerant
and understanding
Acceptance of
Criticism – criticism
can be constructive
and allow you to
improve your work
Personal Characteristics


Enthusiasm – enjoy
your work and display
a positive attitude
Self-motivated –
ability to begin and
follow through on a
task. Set goals and
work to attain them
Personal Characteristics


Tact – the
ability to do and
say the kindest
and most fitting
thing in a
difficult
situation.
Competence –
you are
qualified and
capable to
perform a task.
Personal Characteristics



Responsibility – willing
to be held accountable for
your actions.
Discretion – use good
judgment in what you say
or do. Confidentiality is
important.
Team Player – learn to
work well with others.
Working together can
accomplish a goal much
faster than individually.

WHO AM I?

Everyday this person scored himself on 13
different virtues (A virtue is a positive trait or
quality, moral excellence) including sincerity,
justice, moderation, silence, humility, tranquility,
etc. He stated:


“though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so
ambitious to obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet as I
was, by the endeavor, a better and happier man than I
otherwise should have been had I not attempted it.”
Virtues
Communication



Communication skills are important to
everyone.
How we GIVE and RECEIVE information and
convey our ideas and opinions with those
around us.
Communication comes in many forms:
Forms of Communication





Verbal (sounds, language, tone of voice)
Aural (listening and hearing)
Non-verbal (facial expressions, body
language, and posture)
Written (journals, emails, blogs, text
messages, social media)
Visual (signs, symbols, and pictures)
Communication




To an employer, good communication skills
are essential!
In fact, employers consistently rank good
communication skills at the top of the list for
potential employees.
Employers expect good eye contact, good
posture, and “active” listening.
Communication skills involve give and take –
and can be learned and strengthened over
time!
Communication




It is important to be specific when giving and
receiving communication.
Often time, our meaning gets lost, twisted, or
misunderstood because we haven’t been
specific enough.
Ask clarifying questions.
(Communication activities)
Proper Introductions




It is important to know how to make a proper
introduction. (Remember: Knowledge is
power!)
The custom of a proper introduction is a way
of showing respect for a person’s age or
position.
Proper introductions are relatively simple:
The order of names: The name of the
person being introduced is mentioned last,
and the person to whom the introduction is
made is mentioned first.
Proper Introductions



The rules for who is introduced to whom
depends on whether it's a business or a
social introduction.
Generally, the younger person is introduced
to the older person.
This rule also applies to people of rank. For
instance, a civilian would be introduced to a
person of more importance like a general,
senator, preacher, teacher, etc.
Proper Introductions



Business Introductions: In business,
introductions are based on power and
hierarchy.
Simply, persons of lesser authority are
introduced to persons of greater authority.
Gender plays no role in business etiquette;
nor does it affect the order of introductions.
Proper Introductions




Age
“Mrs. Smith this is my son, Joe Edwards. Joe this is Mrs.
Smith.”
High rank to civilian
“General Bland, I would like to introduce Jack Williams.
Mr. Williams, this is General Mike Bland.
Female to male
Jane, may I introduce you to John Campbell? John, this
is Jane Taylor.
Note: Try not to use the word “meet” when making
introductions. Instead, use words like “this is” or “may I
introduce.”
Proper Introductions



Just remember to say the most important
person’s name first!
Remember: Managers want (and hire)
employees who are well-rounded and are
culturally competent (know about more
than just their own culture).
In our globally competitive market,
cultural diversity not only means power, it
can also mean survival!!!
Enthusiasm and Attitude

What is the difference between “You’re
hired!” …

and …

“Thank you for your interest, but…”
Enthusiasm and Attitude



In a word…Enthusiasm!
It can mean the difference in not just getting a
job, but succeeding in it and even in
advancing in your career.
A positive attitude is a critical component of
workplace success!!
40% - Attitude
 25% - Image and appearance
 25% - Communication skills
 10% - Job skills


According to a variety of sources, your
attitude is the #1 factor in getting or losing a
job.

Activity 9. Role Play: “Believe it or Not:
Your Attitude and Enthusiasm Just Might Get
You the Job!”
Enthusiasm and Attitude


When employers look at prospective
candidates, beyond skills, experience, and
training, they look for those who demonstrate
enthusiasm.
In fact, many employers would rather provide
job skills training to an enthusiastic, but
inexperienced worker than hire someone with
perfect qualifications, but a less-than-positive
attitude.
How to Demonstrate Enthusiasm





Smile
Good posture (sit up straight)
Make eye contact
Demonstrate active listening
Be upbeat
Enthusiastic Employers Typically…





Show up on time
Show interest in job
Demonstrate a willingness to listen, learn, try
new things
Approach customers proactively and offer
assistance (even the difficult ones)
Seek out tasks and projects when there is
down time




Go above and beyond
Get along with co-workers and managers
Respond to constructive criticism with
maturity and willingness to improve
Overall, comes across as someone who
wants to be at work and who is willing to do
what it takes to get the job done.
Turn
“Stinkin’ Thinkin’”
into
Positive Thinking!!
Develop
an
“I CAN” Attitude!!


Developing a positive attitude starts from
learning to believe in one’s self.
In order to believe in ourselves, we must first
understand our personal strengths.
Complete the following…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
I am thankful for…
Other people compliment me on my ability
to…
Something I would like other people to know
about me is…
I feel really good about myself when…
I am proud of my ability to…
Something nice I recently did for someone
else was…
Accepting Failure – Often a necessary
step on the Path to Success!
Another part of developing a good attitude is
learning to fail.
Failing is a part of life. In fact, it accounts for
many, many successes.
Without failing, success is almost impossible!!
Learning how to bounce back from failure is not
always easy, but it is necessary!
Failure is not something to fear, but something
to learn from.

Activity 7. “Life is Full of Hard Knocks”.

Regardless of the challenges you may have
to face (& conquer!), developing and
maintaining a positive attitude will help you
succeed - in all areas of your life!!
Teamwork

Teamwork consists of many professionals,
with different levels of educations, ideas,
backgrounds, and interests, working together
for the benefit of the patient.






Teamwork improves communication and continuity of
care.
A leader is an important part of every team.
Good interpersonal relationships are essential.
The “Golden Rule” (treat others as you would want to
be treated) should be the main rule of team work.
Teamwork
Teamwork2
The Golden Rules of Teamwork
1. Help each other to be RIGHT - not wrong.
2. Look for ways to make New ideas work - not for reasons why they
will not work.
3. If in doubt - Check it Out. Don't make negative assumptions about
one another.
4. Help each other Win and take pride in each other's successes.
US, WE, OUR, TOGETHER, not they, them, their, those guys.
5. Speak Positively about each other, help those who make mistakes
learn.
6. Maintain a positive attitude. Work to improve the situation no matter
what that situation is.
7. Act with initiative and courage as if everyone depends on you.
8. Do everything with Enthusiasm for nothing is as contagious as
success.
9. Whenever you can remember to Give things away rather than take
them away: Give Respect, Recognition, Power, Support, Compassion, Help.
10. Never give up.
Professional Leadership

Leadership



The skill or ability to encourage people to work together
and do their best to achieve common goals.
A leader is defined as an individual who leads or
guides others, or who is in charge to command
others.
In a group, every member who makes a contribution
to an idea can be considered a leader.

Leadership in a group passes from person to person as
each individual contributes to the group’s goal.
Professional Leadership

Leaders are frequently classified as one of
three types based on how they perform their
leadership skills.



Democratic leader – encourages the participation of
all individuals in decisions. Listens to others opinions.
Laissez-faire leader – informal type of leader, will have
minimal rules, group functions with little or no
direction.
Autocratic – often called a dictator, maintains total
rule, makes all decisions.


Are you a leader?
What type are you?
Show your leadership and teamwork

Simon Says

Red Light, Green Light
5 Factors That Contribute to Good
Health

Health care professionals promote health and
disease prevention. A health care worker
should present a healthy appearance.





Diet
Rest
Exercise
Good Posture
Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and drugs
Stress

Working in health care can be very stressful.
Sometimes you will deal with life and death
situations.

How do you handle stress?
Stress

Stress is the body’s reaction to any stimulus
that requires a person to adjust to a changing
environment.


Change always initiates stress.
The stimuli (an event) to change, alter
behavior, or adapt to a situation are
stressors.
Stress

Stressors can be caused by internal or
external forces.



Internal stress – “heart attack,” cancer
External stress – new job, marriage, divorce, test.
No matter what the cause, a stressor will
cause the body to go into alarm or warning
mode…..the “fight or flight” response.

The sympathetic nervous system prepares the
body for action by releasing the hormone
adrenaline into the blood stream.
Stress

Not all stress is harmful.


A small amount of stress is essential to an
individual’s well-being because it makes the
person more alert and raises the energy level.
Stress can cause positive feelings such as
excitement, anticipation, self-confidence, and a
sense of achievement.
Stress – How can you handle it?




Stop: immediately stop what you are doing to
break out of the stress response.
Breathe: take a slow deep breath to relieve
the physical tension.
Reflect: think about the problem and the
cause of the stress.
Choose: determine how you want to deal
with the stress.