Don't stress out-just be more effective, consultant advises

During the general session for the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators, DonnaA. Suter, president, Suter Consulting, talked about what it takes to be successful andefficient without becoming overwhelmed, in her presentation, "Running on empty? Skills andtechniques to reduce on-the-job stress."

"There are always complications [when] one person is completely stressed and [others] canhandle [situations] in a calm manner," Suter said. "What happens? Effectiveness andefficiency."

She talked about being honest with oneself regarding one's practice or one's actions.

Some tips she suggested for being more efficient:

• Do not hold on to every paper document.
• Control interruptions.
• Avoid getting bogged down with e-mail early in the morning when other work can be done.

Knowing one's team and its strengths and weaknesses is important. Strategies include delegatingwork and checking up on it, as well as using more effective wording when asking for anassignment to be completed in accordance with deadlines.