Everyone is in a hurry as the work pace propels us ever faster! While we may think we have all we need to know to do our MSL or leadership positions, I can attest to the continuous need for learning no matter what stage you are at in your career journey! Each edition, we plan to share three new ideas or tools to help MSLs and leaders aim for excellence! I hope you find these concepts useful in your everyday work (and life)!
1. Define the Problem!
MSLs are problem solvers! We leap ahead as many challenges are confronted daily and we strive to be highly responsive as we quickly offer our solutions; however, take a moment…hit the pause button. Seek first to fully understand the problem and needs. Only then should we begin laying out possible options to solve problems. For instance, you would not begin to solve most math problems by blurting out answers; you would analyze the problem, define it, and move ahead in steps to formulate the eventual answer. Similarly, MSLs are confronted with myriad issues, often complex ones, and communication may not always be clear, leading to answers that may not totally hit the target in mind. My MSL teams have heard me say often to “Define the problem, then define your solutions.” Their output shifts with more strategic efforts and answers through taking this initial approach to define things up front!
2. RTFT!
RTFT? Right the First Time! As a pharmacy student doing rotations, it became apparent that pharmacists had a zero-error tolerance rate! Afterall, who wants their prescription filled incorrectly? It could be quite disastrous! So, I adopted that same need for RTFT in all I do. Now, that does not mean I am 100% perfect (except when filling scripts!!), but what it does mean to me is aiming for that level of performance every time I aim. For MSLs and leaders, my approach is to aim first, then do it. Pause to assess how you plan to get where you are going and what that final deliverable should be. If you are aiming higher with RTFT, your output will also inevitably be of a higher standard. While it may seem like corporate wants the fastest solution or answer, remember QSV – quality, speed, value. Notice that quality comes before speed. RTFT focuses first on the quality of your deliverable. When you put quality first in all you do, along with a timely solution, the value will be there! Make RTFT your platform for medical excellence in your daily efforts!
3. Map It!
MSLs and leaders are often involved in projects and programs that require intense planning. Although most of us are not trained to map processes, I completed my undergraduate education at a respected engineering school and I must say that regardless of your degree program there, you got some engineering education! For me that meant learning how to do process mapping to enhance efficiency, clarify communications and define critical paths within a process layout. As an MSL or leader, if your process has more than 3 steps to completion, it’s worth taking a moment to focus on a process map to assure critical details and steps are sequenced, resources are planned and appropriate scope of a project is defined up front. These efforts will save time later and help elevate your output in ways you could not imagine at the outset! Consider mapping your process with a flowchart. This aids visual clarity, effective coordination, better communication, analysis and problem solving as well as proper documentation should the project be undertaken again in the future!
Whether you try one of these concepts or all three, I wish everyone success as you build your MSL and leadership capabilities through employing new approaches! Look for Three to Succeed in the next editions of The MSL Journal! Keep climbing and reaching for excellence!
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