Staying Productive as a Med SLP: Make work work for you

We’ve discussed the myriad of job responsibilities put upon the SLP. There is nothing easy about this job and there’s a lot at stake to do it quickly and to do it right. This means we need to employ tactics in order to get everything done within the time allotted to us and to make sure it’s done right. “But I have 12 patients to see each day, meetings that need to be attended, programs that need to be implemented, policies that need to be changed, and I’m trying to start my own private practice.” It’s easy to fill up your plate in this profession. There’s lots to do, not a lot of time, and not a lot of support. Let’s take a look at some strategies that might assist you in the impossible endeavor to maintain efficient productivity as a med SLP.

Make work work for you

The only way to do a ton of quality work in a short period of time is to do something you truly care about. Our creativity and productivity improves when we enter a state of flow. Flow happens when you are fully immersed in your work and have complete tunnel vision for the task at hand. The only way to enter this state is to be passionate about the work to begin with. So the first step is to go back to your goals and figure out what it is you want to do to begin with. After all, nobody wants to be productive for something they don’t care about. And if you don’t want to be productive, then chances are you never will be.

Achieve Anything

When we find out what it is we want to achieve, the best way to pave a path forward is to write it down, set a deadline, make a list of everything that needs to get done in chronological order, and start addressing it today. Even if it’s just checking one thing off your list everyday. The secret is to always maintain progress so that your progress (and productivity) develops momentum and snow balls into an unstoppable boulder.

What’s most important?

Did you know that priority was a singular noun for most of its existence as a word? It’s original definition was the one most important thing. It wasn’t until only the last century or so when we started to introduce the concept of priorities. I think they had it right 100 years ago. There should only be one most important thing. One priority that you need to focus on in a given time, day, and/or week. Finding what that priority is can be very difficult, but is the most important thing you can do. Find what it is you want to be productive for first. Then the productivity will come.

Say no to say yes

SLPs are notorious for being people-pleasers. Typically we are some of the most social people who, at their core, want to help anybody and everybody. No matter what the consequences are to ourselves. But this kind of self-sacrifice doesn’t help anybody. SLPs have to start getting more comfortable with the word ‘no.’ Saying no to all of the things that are unimportant to you and your goals will help you find more time and energy to focus on the things that actually do matter (novel concept, huh?). Time is the most valuable asset we have because it is limited and also has endless possibilities behind it. Keeping this in mind will help you say no to your rehab manager when they ask you to sit in the cafeteria and listen for coughing during lunch (True story for me). That way, you can focus instead on an endless number of possibilities that actually create value.

Plan it

As you are making a plan, don’t forget to write out all of the things you’ll need to succeed. Some questions to keep in mind during this process…

Who do I need to meet?

What do I need to know?

What resources do I need access to?

How can I get adequate support?

When is the best time to do it?

Just do it

Don’t get stuck in the planning phase (there’s a reason why I kept that section so short). A huge part of the reason we don’t end up achieving what we set out for is that we let the balloon deflate before it even gets up into the air. If you truly believe in something and are motivated to try it out then just do it. Don’t waste all of your time planning and prepping because you’ll lose the courage and motivation that you’ll need to gain traction. Just start and see where it takes you. An added benefit to starting quickly and early is that you can use the feedback you get to guide your direction. Planning is not the same thing as doing. Only one of these gets you results.

Work less to do more

Did you know that 35 hours is actually the optimal workweek in terms of productivity? And our productivity absolutely plummets after 50 hours. Most of us are working too much and are working too hard. We are not machines. We are human beings, not human doings. We need rest to rejuvenate ourselves and to get excited about what we are doing. As important as your work can be in terms of launching your career, it can never be at the expense of a healthy, balanced life.

Conclusion

There’s a lot that needs to get done in speech pathology. Patient care needs to be improved. Access to high-quality services needs to be increased. Useful research needs to grow. In order to do it all, we need to be on top of our game. But most importantly the productivity we achieve should be towards something we believe in deeply. It should be a byproduct of a meaningful career with direction. It should be something that fulfills the core of who we are and what we are trying to achieve. Only then, is it worth the work. Now, get to it.

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