While teaching a group of leaders about time management, I shared a recent conversation I had with one of my sons who is working on becoming an Nurse Practitioner. He shared how much effort it takes to transcribe his notes from the unending hours of clinicals he puts in each week, in addition to the many hours he spends as a nurse in a large hospital emergency room.

Having physicians in my family I am aware of the exhaustive schedule they had to put in during their residency. Time management is the key!

What does this have have to do with managing a local health department? If you are running a health department, clinic or behavioral health clinic, you are most likely being asked be the marketing person!

The only way you can ensure the success of your efforts is to exercise time management. A large part of my coaching program involves time management. Without it, most leaders of health departments suffer from RSAM (Random, Sporadic Acts of Marketing). These are efforts that have little or no measurable impact on the health department.

As most leaders in pubic health can attest, you not only need to market to the general public and community, you also need to market your health department to your county board or even the state legislature. The sad fact is that many of them don’t know the vital role you play.

Time management is key to success and with a commitment to follow a system, you will see amazing results!