viii Presents High-Interest Features Chapter 4 On the Road to Personal and Professional Success 99 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Pathway to Success Pathway to Success Manage Time and Increase Productivity It’s Tuesday morning, you are at work and your boss has just assigned you a project with a deadline of noon on Friday. What do you do next? Do you set the project aside until you are done with your current task? Do you take the time to skim through and see what you need to do to complete the project? Do you forget about the project until Friday morning and then rush to get it done? Time is a limited resource that cannot be increased. Everyone has the same amount of time each day. Why is it then that some people seem to have plenty of time to do everything they want to do while other people seem to never have enough time? The difference is often in the way people are able to manage their time. How well you manage your time can greatly affect your productivity, both personally and professionally. People who possess good time management skills know how to “work smart” to accomplish their goals. Working smart involves scheduling time wisely, prioritizing and keeping track of tasks, and avoiding time wasters (activities that stop productivity). Time wasters can take up a little or a lot of time and prevent you from completing what needs to be done. Examples of time wasters at home, at school, and at work may include • checking e-mail and social media sites • watching TV or videos • being interrupted by people stopping by to talk to about nonwork-related matters • talking on the phone or texting • attending an unexpected meeting that takes up half the day • procrastinating • being disorganized and • being fatigued. So now that you know what time wasters are, take a closer look at this list. Which time wasters impact your productivity? Are there other time wasters you would add to this list? Now that you have identifi ed your time wasters, what strategies can you implement to stay on task? For example, perhaps you waste time by constantly checking e-mail or reading the latest updates on social media sites. In this case, you might want to schedule a few minutes each morning and afternoon to respond to messages and check social media accounts. At other times, keep the programs closed to avoid distractions. The same strategies you choose to use in your personal life can also be used in your professional life. Role-Play Ways to Meet Deadlines Review the scenario at the beginning of this feature. Write what you would normally do when a project assigned on Tuesday morning is due by noon on Friday. Then, explain what changes you would make to your normal routine to complete the job on or before the deadline. Now, fi nd a partner and share your two different approaches to the job assignment. As a team, make two different scenarios to act out in front of the class. The fi rst scenario should show how time wasters can affect progress on the assignment. The second scenario should show a person using good time management skills to get the assignment done. In both scenarios, indicate whether or not the assignment is completed on or before the deadline, as well as your boss’s reaction to your completed project. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 102 Unit 1 Learning About Human Services Haley loves her job as a health and wellness coordinator. She works with families looking for assisted living options either for themselves or for older family members. The clients she serves are often under stress, emotionally vulnerable, and in a crisis mode to find a living situation that could meet the needs of their loved ones. For most people, locating assisted living options is a new experience. Haley helps her clients define their needs and discover their options. She helps them make decisions, understand state laws, and fill out necessary paperwork. She also finds resources for helping to make the move happen. Although Haley likes her job, some days are intense. This is especially true when her clients want more counseling than problem-solving assistance. At the end of the day, however, Haley knows that she is making a difference in people’s quality of life. Recently, Haley and her boyfriend ended their relationship. It was a good decision and mutually agreed upon, but Haley missed her friendship with him. She was tired from all of the late night talk leading up to their decision to separate. She noticed that she was sometimes distracted when conversing with clients. As Haley processed the changes in her life, she sometimes felt sad. She began to journal those thoughts and shared some of her feelings with her sister, her mother, and her best friend. Haley decided to put some of her own professional advice to good use. She realized that she needed to put more energy into connecting with other people outside of work. She also needed more activities that would distract her. Haley decided to take up running again. She even began to think of training for an upcoming 5K run that would benefit a charity. She asked a friend to join her in taking on the challenge. Haley’s increased physical activity demanded that she get enough sleep and fuel herself with nutritious food. Haley noticed that her own energy and attention were back to normal. It did not happen overnight, but soon Haley realized that she was enjoying her life once again. She was enjoying new friendships, spending time laughing and sharing. Her sister was now in a new relationship and she was excited for her. It had been a difficult period, but Haley knew that her life experiences would help her to better connect with her clients who were undergoing stressful life events. Coping and Hoping For Discussion 1. Name at least four causes of stress in Haley’s life. 2. Name some ways that Haley dealt with her own life stresses. 3. How did Haley’s reactions affect her physically, emotionally, socially, and even spiritually? 4. How might you react in a similar situation? Case Study Andresr/Shutterstock.com Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 3 What Makes an Effective Human Services Worker? 65 In recent decades, technology has changed virtually all aspects of society and continues to do so. Human services is no exception. While computers were originally developed for use by business and government, their application to other areas, including human services, quickly became apparent. Other related forms of technology soon followed. Many human services careers involve keeping track of and using numerous types of factual information, or data, for future use. Computers are particularly suited to simplifying those tasks. Keeping accurate records is essential for many human services workers. Each time a human services worker meets with a client, he or she must record and save the information for future use. At the end of a service period, human services workers must calculate costs and provide billing information. Electronic programs can greatly simplify this process. Any files including confidential information should be password protected. Electronic spreadsheet programs, such as Excel™, allow information to be adapted for different uses. For example, a human services worker might set up a basic spreadsheet with a list of clients and services provided. This same spreadsheet could also be adapted to keep track of each client’s progress toward meeting specific class goals or any other need. Various types of reports could be generated based on the data in a particular spreadsheet. There are countless other ways that human services workers can use technology to boost their productivity. For example, a human services worker might send a weekly or monthly newsletter to clients. After developing the newsletter template, the human services worker can simply add new information as needed. Using an electronic contact list could speed the process of sending the newsletter electronically or printing labels for mailing. Many human services workers also have their own professional websites. Technology offers human services workers exciting options for presenting information in diverse ways that can bring learning to life. It takes effort, imagination, and a willingness to learn new skills. Some options require more sophisticated technology than others. Even with limited equipment, however, human services workers can add variety to the services they provide. Although technology offers tremendous advantages, it also offers challenges in a field that is so personal and people oriented. A tremendous amount of confidential information may be shared between clients and the care provider. Private financial, medical, and employment information, along with information about family relationships, drug use or addictions, abuse or other violence, and criminal activities, may be recorded. Human services workers must be extra vigilant in using secure technology tools to store, communicate, and retrieve this information. They must take precautions to ensure that privacy is maintained at all times and that all confidentiality laws and requirements are observed. Writing Activity Keep a log for a week of all the types of technology you use to transmit information to others. Write an essay in response to the following questions: 1. What information would you not want conveyed to the general public without your knowledge? Why? 2. What harm might come from personal information being shared with others? 3. How might you ensure that the information you have shared is not passed on to other unintended receivers? Using Technology In Human Services Law and Ethics Human services workers deal with clients’ private, sensitive information. Imagine the problems that might arise from this information ending up in the wrong person’s hands. Therefore, human services workers avoid sending through electronic means any sensitive information. This is information that could potentially cause harm to their Engaging, high-interest features deliver thought-provoking realism to topics essential in the human services professions. These features enhance your learning in each chapter. Case Studies are designed to capture your interest with real-life scenarios and follow-up questions that involve discussion with your peers. Law and Ethics features deliver thought-provoking information on topics critical to careers in human services. Pathway to Success hands-on activities provide opportunities for you to build skills and learn best practices as they apply to your everyday life now and in the future.