Posts Tagged 'Inspiration'

Remember Your Research Ability

Published May 5, 2009 Uncategorized 2 Comments
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At the beginning of my research career, I felt like Homer in this clip. (Hopefully I wasn’t as stupid)  It’s natural for people to question their ability, even further down the career road. This is especially true when your follow-up rate may be faltering.

But remember what got you here. Remember your instincts because yours are intact. Remember if you have the ability to be human, you have the ability to be successful in finding the unfindable. Remember the internet. Remember the strategies you’ve learned.

Finally, remember I’m here to help. There’s more to come. Stay tuned.

Thanks for your work

Published April 21, 2009 Attitudes , Follow-up Strategies 2 Comments
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I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the research work you do. I know about the long hours of preparing – recruiting – intervening – finding – data analyzing – writing – publishing. Your dedication to helping people on a mass scale is truly inspiring to someone like me. I’ve seen the benefits of your work. I’ve spoken to the people with better healthcare, a better outlook on life, and a sense of hope for the future. On the flipside, I’ve went to the funerals of people who didn’t have the better option. Furthermore, I’ve seen the people walking around with the hopelessness in their eyes. I know it affects you as it affects me. I know you will do anything to right this wrong.

So thank you for your dedication. I truly appreciate it.

Now go tell the rest of your staff the same thing.

A Trip to the Dentist

Published April 9, 2009 Uncategorized 2 Comments
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My friend Trisha tried out a new dentist recently. She set down the large StarBucks latte on the counter and told the receptionist she had an appointment. They checked her in as quickly as possible.

After settling into the dentist’s chair, the hygienist went to work.

“So how much coffee do you drink?” asked the hygienist.

“A lot,” said Trisha.

“You know that’s not good-”

“Oh Carol, she’s not gonna stop drinking coffee,” said the dentist walking in. “That stuff is good!”

Trisha smiled as the hygienist shut up. 

So what does this have to do with research follow-up?  Well, for one thing, Trisha raved about the dentist and looked forward to going back. The dentist related to Trisha as a human being, not as a professional who feels she should scold her for drinking something that stains her teeth. You don’t think Trisha already knows this?

Bottom line: Try to create a research environment like the dentist did. Tell it like it is and don’t criticize them for anything. It will keep them coming back.

Preventing Follow-up Burnout: #2

Published March 31, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Talk about the future. No matter if you’re struggling with follow-up, or you’re rocking it. It’s good to talk to your staff about how the future will look. 

1. You’re struggling. 
Talk about what a successful study will look like. Create a picture of the effects of the research. Talk about increased job security. Speak about how proud you would be of your team. Lastly, tell them you know they can do it. 

2. You’re rocking.
Talk about the home stretch. Raise the bar even higher. Give them the goal to get 100% follow-up. However, make sure to be positive or excited about it all. Because you should be. 

Overall, remember to be positive about everything. Negativity won’t get you anywhere.   

Saying “Yes” Helps Your Research

Published March 2, 2009 Attitudes , Follow-up Strategies , Marketing and Follow-up Leave a Comment
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Today I read a great post by Seth Godin that got me thinking. When people want something, they want to hear “yes.” If you can’t say it,  at least try to give another alternative. If you say “no,” people walk. This is just as applicable in the research setting as it is to the buying public.

1. Follow-up workers (RAs)
As long as you’re playing within the rules, being a “yes” worker will build client rapport faster than anything. Clients will trust you’re doing what’s best for them. As a result, they will go out of their way for you, including coming back in for follow-up.

In the office, you will be seen as a listener, a problem solver, a team player and a goal-oriented rock star of a worker. If someone doesn’t see you as such, their tenure may be limited. You know why? Because you will get results. They will struggle.

2. Managers/PIs
Supporting your staff  will only produce great research and a positive view of your work, both internally and externally. So listen to them. Ask them for their opinions. When they ask for something, either say “yes” or give them other options. If you’re consistently saying “no” to your staff, they will say “no” to you through their work.

What do I say to comments?

Yes.

If I Can Do It…

Published February 16, 2009 Attitudes , Follow-up Strategies , Uncategorized 1 Comment
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You can do it. You’ve heard it a ton, but the phrase works with research follow-up. I didn’t start out confident in finding the unfindable. Let me give you a little context.

I grew up in North Dakota. Now, there’s only about 12 people in North Dakota, and everyone knew everyone else. For instance, I spent my childhood in a town where a typical newspaper article stated something like “Ferguson Grandparents Visit This Weekend.” You think I’m joking. Anyways, you ask a neighbor where Billy is, and lo and behold…

So this naive North Dakota farm boy moves to inner city Denver. Then gets hired by a university to work on a longitudinal study with hardcore drug users. Why’d they hire me? Had to be my character, because I had no research or tracking experience at all, and I didn’t lie in my interview.

Let’s step back. You know how much experience I had with hardcore drug users? The “hardcore” ND life consisted of guys putting back a case of Milwaukee’s Best in one night.

Now I get to follow-up on heroin and crack users. I was terrified. Not for my safety, but for the job and research. So I tried out the “hip to the streets” bit (similar to this scene from “Stir Crazy” [language warning]). My clients ate me up alive. So I dropped the act and let it flow naturally, for better or for worse.

Fast-forward 4 years, when I’m a guest speaker at a NIDA conference, training 300 PhDs and RAs on how to find research subjects who’ve gone missing.

It’s been a crazy, great journey, but here’s the point:

You and your project can achieve an amazing follow-up rate.

If I can do it, you can do it. So let’s get started…

Client Tracking: Make it a Game

Published February 11, 2009 Attitudes , Follow-up Strategies 2 Comments
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Bill Russell was a genius. He was smarter than anyone on the floor, and everyone knew it. He was the best player on a team that won 11 championships. That’s a lot.

Russell utilized many attitudes that can bring you success in the game of research follow-up, so here’s a couple to get started:

1. Change the whole game.
The rules of basketball were no different for Russell. But he revolutionized how you played within those rules. When I started my position at the University, the idea of researching public records on the internet was foreign to my organization. The rules allowed it, so I did it.

2. Do things they didn’t think could be done.
After we concluded our first study, I found out people in a higher tax bracket thought this project was dead in the water. The locator information was scant and pretty much B.S. But I didn’t see it that way, and I refused to buy into it. My crew and I got creative and the rest was history.

3. Winning is everything.
If someone asks me to name the one thing that led to my success in finding the unfindable, I say this: I made it a game. I love winning and hate losing. So every time I came to work, I entered the game. Was the game frustrating at times? Sure. But we won. Why? Because we never saw losing as a possibility. We knew we would win, and we did.

And you know the best part, besides the findings we produced? People saw us as geniuses in the game of research follow-up.

That’s a good feeling people!

You know what feels even better? Leaving comments. Hit it and quit it!

Preventing Follow-up Burnout: Strategy #1

Published February 3, 2009 Attitudes , Burn out , Follow-up Strategies Leave a Comment
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If you’re hearing a lot negativity among your research workers regarding follow-up, or you’re experiencing it yourself, burnout is present. It’s a real threat to every research project. I know, I experienced it myself.  But it’s only a viewpoint not based in  reality. This post is the first in a series of strategies to address and overcome burnout. So without further ado, my first suggestion is…

Watch “Stand and Deliver” with your staff

First, most workers like watching a good flick. It might be a good break for people. But this is no ordinary movie. Yes, it does fall into the overcoming odds formula of Hollywood. But it’s the way the teacher inspires them to overcome the odds of Calculus that is fascinating. So a couple of things to do before you watch it:

1. DON’T announce you’re going to watch “Stand and Deliver.” Say you’re going to do “team building.”

2. Perform a short (10 minute) ideation session before the movie comparing Calculus and Research Follow-up. If they are burnt out, they will find several. Then announce you’re going to watch the movie.

3. After you watch the movie, open up the discussion. Have the Research Assistants explain what they got out of it and have the Managers/Associates explain what they got out of it.  No one rides for free!!!

So cook up some popcorn and watch a good flick. You’ll be surprised what you get out of it.

And make sure to email me about how it went or comment.

Ben Van Hunnik

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