Author: Chris Woodgate, ISAS Officer
Seems to me this is about as farfetched as ‘when will I be famous?’ by whose measure are we successful, what does success look like and how do I get there?
I don’t know about you but when I was a manager I almost got there only to have it snatched out of my grasping hands by finance, targets, someone else’s issues, or what felt like sabotage.
Is success possible? Yes, I think so depending on what measure you use, if my definition of success depends on world peace then I think I am about fail, if it depends on managed parameters that I know with hard work and determination are achievable then I am more confident.
There are some traps we can fall into:
- We think success is impossible so we criticise it when we see it in others or their ideas, instead of taking time to listen, learn and maybe hanging on to their coat tails so we get some idea of how success works. Remember success tends to breed success.
- We would like life to easy; anything difficult is probably impossible so we throw in the towel. If someone comes along and achieves our impossible we probably get upset (it might just be me though) why couldn’t I do it, why can they.
- We think there is a ‘special formula’ and we keep looking for it. But don’t forget that there is no such thing as an overnight success, just look at the hours of practice, training or rehearsal orchestras, musicians; Olympic athletes have to do to get to the top of their fields. Success is built on many small steps there are very few short cuts
- We may think success comes by chance so we sit back and wait for opportunity to strike (hopefully with flashing lights and honking horns so I don’t miss it). Have you ever said “oh they just happened to be in the right place at the right time”, did that really ‘just’ happen or did they put themselves in the way of success through hard work and determination. I can’t think of another way of finding the “right place at the right time”.
The manager’s life is one of hard work and determination that your service will succeed and it is hard.
Yet in my travels to various departments across the country I am continually astounded by the dedication of managers to managing the best service with quality and efficiency; even with ever increasing budget constraints and restrictions Radiology Managers are really innovative!
I take my ‘hat off’ to you and if I have seen you recently – yes I mean you. Therefore I know it is possible to achieve what seems impossible.
So why would you even want to think about accreditation when it is just another load you and the team have to carry.
Yes it is hard work, yes it takes time and determination; but isn’t that what success is all about? At the end of the process you will have a piece of paper that says you and your team have achieved – you are successful. It is not impossible; others have done it and continue to maintain it.
WHY not take the step and prove you are an exceptional, successful manager?