Medical-Legal Topics

You know those eureka moments when you hear a concept that immediately makes sense? Yesterday I was listening to an audio CD from the 2009 National Speakers Association when I learned about the J curve. A management principle from the field of economics is well-suited to explain the resistance to change. Understanding this principle helps to make sense of what happens when you embark on a change. Think of the short leg of the J as the entry point for making a change.

1. As an attorney or legal nurse consultant, you decide to purchase new software to upgrade your office.
2. As an attorney or legal nurse consultant, you advise the staff that cross training is needed in order to achieve maximum productivity and customer support.
3. As a nurse, you take a legal nurse consulting course and decide to open a business.

You enter the J curve and expect that your hard work and effort will result in an upward growth or positive change. Despite your preparation and expectations, things go wrong.

1. The software is not intuitively obvious and you feel inadequate.
2. Your staff don’t want to change what they know how to do in order to learn new skills.
3. You find customers are not flocking to your doors to take advantage of your new business.

Things get worse. You have entered the valley of despair.
1. You find that it takes twice as long to do something in the new software as in the prior version.
2. The staff reluctantly takes on the new responsibilities and makes mistakes. Clients complain. The staff loses interest in the change.
3. You find yourself unable to keep up with marketing to get new clients and your current day job.

Many change efforts die in the valley of despair. You don’t know if you have hit rock bottom; this is only clear as you ascend the bottom of the valley. At any point in time, you don’t know if things are getting better or they will continue worsening. Can you tough it out?

Take home lessons:
A. Remember that none of the hoped for improvements will occur if you give up too soon.
B. Remember that performance will dropdown before it will improve above the old standard.
C. Remember that you can make adjustments to achieve the outcome you desire.
D. Keep your confidence that the changes you are making are necessary and right.

Give us feedback. Tell us when you went through a J curve.

Also see Managing the Stress of Change
On Determination and On Being Trapped

            What are these?