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The Dirty Dozen Skills, Abilities, and Attributes of Successful Health and Patient Advocates and Care Managers – Part I
That’s quite a title for a blog post, don’t you think? I’ve been working on this one for awhile, and it seems to have taken on a life of its own. In fact, it’s so long, I’ve now divided it into four parts. Further, you’re about to learn is that I can’t count. I call it the “dirty dozen” because it’s a catchy title and it will compel you to link here to read the post (You’ll read more about this in Part III !). But it’s really a list of 16 (yes, 16!) skills, tasks, and attributes that the most successful advocates are, and employ. Which of these describe you and your abilities? Which of them don’t? Where do you go from here? Do your own assessment! Part I: Attributes of Success Health/Patient Advocates and Care Managers 1. Successful advocates must, above all, be trustworthy, and must guide their practices by asking themselves, “Will this client (or potential client) trust me if I _____?” Before, during, and after you are hired you must continually behave as if you are deserving of that trust. Remember, you are being asked to be a part of the most intimate and important parts of clients’ lives – their health and financial well-being. You must command trust, and you must consistently prove that their trust has been well placed by being consistent, responsive, and available when needed. Remember, too, that your trustworthiness isn’t just important for your relationship with that one client you’re working with (or may work with.) As long as your client believes you are worth their trust, they will share that information with others. Being trustworthy is important not only for your relationship with your current client but for the future of your practice, too. Read more: The Birdcage: How to Ruin a First Impression 2. To be successful, you must be a people person. You must have the ability to interact with other people easily – conversations should flow. This includes being respectful, listening carefully, and putting yourself in the shoes of your client. Also included in the description…