Chapter 5 - Extra Readings

Screaming Managers - Screaming Managers = The worst thing in the world! Nothing has ever made me more unmotivated and unwilling to work than screaming managers. The fact that they are pissed off definitely rubs off onto the people they are yelling at. Anger, I believe spreads like wildfire. The important part of my job is to keep cool when things are hot. Anger is one of the main emotions that must be controlled in the workplace. It creates negative energy throughout the area that these "yelling events" take place. Even people who are not involved in the argument feel the tension and heat. This article should be read by all "hothead managers". They might not even realize it, but actual calm techniques and directions create good results when compared to yelling.

Get Healthy or Else - It's quite scary to think even though we are healthy, we actually could be days away from a serious health risk. Even a tri-athlete who cycles 36 miles to and from work every day, was at risk of dying because of a bad diet. I have heard the rumor that 80% of the way we look is what we consume, and only 20% comes from exercising, working out, etc. I never really believed this before, until I read this article. I see in the future all companies regulating policies on cigarette smoking and obesity. Since obesity is the number one killer, shouldn't everyone including health plans have a focus on helping this epidemic? I believe it is just as important as any other reason to go to the doctor. Therefore, I believe that a "health plan" for any given employee should include curing obesity, nicotine reduction plans, and all other issues that people may have that affect their true health.

Jessica's Story - This story sounds like one in a million. This high tech process is so involved with scans, diagnostics, tests, etc. it is completely ridiculous to fail under the reason of choosing the wrong blood type. The best of the best, fall to the simplest task probably even an intern can accomplish. Even someone who has no medical experience would probably think "Oh, I one thing that I DO know is that the person we are operating on has to have the same blood type as the organs that we are putting inside of her." Completely ridiculous!

As far as the operation goes, they are replacing a heart, and a lung. This has to be an extremely complicated procedure. With all the steps that are taken, and the procedures to follow, something had to be flawed. And it was double checking work. In this critical of a situation there should be a least three people checking each others work constantly, and even finally inspected by a higher up before proceeding with work. The people working in this environment probably got too "into" what they were doing, and figured that everything always goes smoothly in their daily routine. But, someone always has to step in and keep people on their toes, otherwise corners will be cut, and overlooked.