How can you maintain a positive attitude while making difficult decisions in case management?

Having clear boundaries can be very important. Sometimes our work is hard and sometimes we might be delivering bad news or something the client does not want to hear. It's important to have these boundaries and also understand what your role is. We can only do so much so it's important to not take on the roles of others.

As an international cricket umpire (retired 2002, First class cricket 2016) our role was very well defined. I did my stint in the days of TV but no replays, then in 1992 the 3rd umpire was started, tv for run outs stumping fair catch a little later. We had a defined role to make decisions. These days there is a fall back call if the player thinks it may be wrong. As an example LBW, target is 9 inches wide, Stumps are set at nine inches, 28 inches high. Did it hit in line, not in line not out, did it hit the bat or gloves before hitting body pads etc. Did it pitch outside leg before hitting batter and it goes on, how many seconds do you have to make up your mind, not many. Internationally now the % of correct calls is about 95%…..

I often encourage people to be present and to practice checking in with themselves. For example, in this very moment, how are you feeling emotionally and physically? How's your cognitive functioning? How's your breathing? Based on this, you can then determine what you need for yourself (e.g. movement, a snack, quiet time, etc.). There is only here and now. Let it be.

Although not structured as Case managers, in our work, difficult decisions are faced daily and often multiple times a day. We find the knowledge that without us participating in or completely making decisions, our Client's lives would be less secure, filled with far more anxiety, and often would result in significant harm. Care Management encompasses all aspect of care needs.

This is insightful. Sometimes we take more than we can handle in the name of helping. But then again with role overload comes burnout. Its important to define our boundaries for us to effectively manage cases

While I agree self-care is vital, I find too often the reasons for stress and burnout can be traced to the organization and management. If we properly funded and staffed services, paid the wages case managers deserve, provided quality scheduled Supervision, invested in professional development and truly managed caseload ratios we would see far less stress and burnout. The concepts of self-care and resilience put all the responsibility on the shoulders of our staff and we need to recognize the larger, contributing factors.

Having a supportive circle is critical to self care. I use this example often with clients as well as my personal life. Life is like a chain ??, the links have to connect at some point to create a useful product. If one link is broken the chain becomes useless. Family, friends, and coworkers are a link and a huge component that has to connect in order to support the individual. All to often we see this link missing in a majority of individuals lives and its frankly sad to see this. Surrounding yourself with amazing individuals that lift you up, and help you to thrive is essential in any field of work you are in. Take time to lay it down, practice taking care of you, so you can be great for someone else.

Making difficult decisions is a challenge, just like doing a marathon is a challenge. You need to prepare, work out what needs to be done, and how best to do it, and then make sure you have the support you need during the process. In addition, plan for a 'recovery' period afterwards, something that will help you unwind, and renew yourself. Remember, nobody does back-to-back major races, and expects to win. That rest and recovery period is essential to being able to maintain a high level of performance in challenging situations.

A very important and essential routine to have as a professional to practice self care, to give your self and well-being a break from the hustle and a well deserved rest Looking after yourself is loving yourself and you need that to fill your cup up so you can be there to pour into others. This can be in a form of exercise, spending time with loved ones, have a spa day or walking in nature, need ro maintain a healthy work life balance.

Having people that care and support you is so important to a happy life. They can make all the difference when you're in a dark place as well as feeling great when life is going.

Effective and assertive communication in case management involves clear, concise, and respectful expression. It’s key to set clear expectations, give constructive feedback, and address issues promptly. Practice active listening to understand client and team perspectives. Use “I” statements to express your views without blame. Be open to feedback and different opinions. Regular team meetings and clear documentation ensure everyone is on the same page. Effective communication builds trust, enhances teamwork, and leads to better decision-making in case management.

In my experience having a ‘team’ approach means that your not on your own with the decisions and so it makes easier if they are difficult as they are made collaboratively but also staying client focused means that’s often in the client’s best interest.

Communicating effectively and assertively includes being professional in how we respond, whether it’s involving an issue with opposing counsel’s response to a pleading you’ve filed, a client’s frustration over the lengthy litigation process or a disagreement with a colleague. How we respond to a situation impacts others and our environment and our response creates a ripple effect that affects our career, reputation and success. We should be professional, respectful, and courteous while getting our point across, regardless of the situation/topic of discussion. It doesn’t mean that being respectful and assertive makes you weak, but rather a class-act and someone that people want to interact with and respect.

Positive attitude can be maintained by communicating effectively and assertively. Case management involves exchanging information, idea, feedback and emotions with clients their families and other service providers. Clearly express thoughts, feelings and needs respectfully, confidently and directly. Emphasis should be made on mutual understanding, respect of others rights and defending personal boundaries. Promote open, honest and constructive dialogue.

Both positivity and negativity can spread quickly throughout the work place. As a leader you should focus on positive attitude so you can support those who are having a difficult time. I am someone who will deliberately spend time with people who have a bad attitude at work so I can help them figure out what is bothering them. If this negative attitude becomes a daily issue then I will avoid the toxic environment or anywhere for that matter, as a positive attitude can be contagious, unfortunately, a negative attitude can also spread through people, and before you know it, your mindset can completely change with too much exposure to these types of people.

I seek out the silver lining constantly, but counter that by being honest and managing expectations. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and if necessary, be brutally honest about how likely it is that it will probably fall somewhere between those two.

In my experience as a psychotherapist, it is important to help clients focus on solutions as it is to explore their struggles. I always like to end a session with a sense of possibility/ direction and an achievable small goal. This empowers clients to focus on the next step towards what they would like to achieve from therapy. Small successes help build confidence in themselves and motivate them to continue on the path of wellness.

Goal planning is fundamental to the case management process. Manager and client identify specific long-term goals and then systemically break them down into the incremental behaviours needed to be accomplished to achieve each goal. To decrease the likelihood of failure, case managers must be knowledgeable about goal planning.

I'm a realist. I believe in identifying needs not wants and take steps to fill those needs one by one. Take steps that will allow the individual to keep making progress beyond your care.

I have found that being positive without being a Pollyanna is a good approach. I have also found that celebrating every success regardless of how small builds over time an attitude of success and accomplishment. Success is a culture. Since I work with incarcerated veterans I find that I need to help them develop the culture of success, looking, acting and believing they can be successful and celebrating success and looking at disappointments as ways to learn how to do things better next time.

All to often we carry the burden and frustration of what in man's eyes is considered "failed" experiences, and this phrase determines if we move forward in our journey to success. Mindset is key. There are no failures but learning experiences we are able to grow from. Using this perspective with clients as well as a self assessment on ourselves changes the narrative from a negative to a motivation tool for future endeavors. Self evaluations are critical at every level of life for either self growth or corporate growth. Write goals and aspirations down on what you want to accomplish from day to day and adjust accordingly. Give yourself grace when things don't work out the way you planned. It's in the trials we learn to soar.

Learning and growing from experiences involves reflection and self-awareness. Analyze both successes and challenges, identifying lessons and insights gained. Embrace constructive feedback, adapt to changing circumstances, and seek opportunities for professional development. Cultivate resilience by acknowledging mistakes as learning opportunities and using them to refine your skills. Regularly assess personal and professional goals, adjusting them based on evolving aspirations and experiences. Continuous learning and growth contribute to a well-rounded and adaptable approach, enhancing both personal and professional development.

Learning and growing from your experiences requires a high level of self reflection and accountability. It’s easy for most people to recognize when they’re being complacent. It gets harder when you’re unconsciously being obstinate and unable to acknowledge that your method of thinking or processes are becoming obsolete. You have to be willing to admit to past faults and be adaptable to the environment around you to successfully grow from it.

A SWOT analysis is a helpful tool: STRENGTH: What was efficient? WEAKNESS: What needs work? This leads into -OT OPPORTUNITIES: For improvement, to not make same mistakes. Who else can we involve? What other methods could have been applied? THREATS: What are roadblocks that could hinder getting the job done?

Maintaining a positive attitude while making tough decisions in case management involves focusing on the bigger picture and reminding yourself of the positive impact your decisions can have. Break down the problem into smaller parts, stay organized, and approach each step with a solution-oriented mindset. Surround yourself with a support system, seek advice when needed, and celebrate small victories along the way. Remember that difficulties are temporary challenges, and your positive attitude can make a difference in finding solutions.

I must admit, after some phonecalls yesterday, I gave myself a huge pat on the back for having resolved a massive rehab barrier for a client, by bringing their partner into the process, which she had stepped away from before we became involved due to the tension in the immediate family. And I acknowledged my colleague's involvement in that as well, who was the first to make contact with her. But as the partner's questions went beyond my colleague's knowledge, she asked me to help. It was such a good moment, huge sighs of relief all round - although I did get a banging headache later - the lady had needed a good solid 45 minutes ranting about the family before she was ready to hear how we can change things!

In case management, celebrating and rewarding yourself and others is vital for morale. Recognize achievements, big or small, through team shout-outs or personal notes of appreciation. Implement a system for peer recognition. Take time for self-care and encourage others to do the same. Organize team-building activities or casual meet-ups to foster camaraderie. Offer flexible work options as a reward for hard work. Celebrating successes and acknowledging efforts maintains positivity and motivation, essential in a demanding field like case management.

As a leader and even prior, I have always celebrated others wins. I also acknowledge professional and personal achievements. It is important to note that you must know how others wish to be celebrated as some are more private than others. Even though I do not have control over extrinsic rewards at my job, I still do my best to show my gratitude. An email can go a long way to some and it takes barely any time. Showing genuine excitement for others helps to improve morale within individuals and the team as a whole. It creates an environment where individuals can feel supported, appreciated and valued.

You should always celebrate the small things together as a team. If you only celebrate the big wins, it could be a while. Help your team to see the success in failures too. This builds trust and support within the team and lets everyone know that good things can come with the bad.

Something that I think is really important is celebrating - especially at work. As a counselor / case manager, I feel great when someone recognizes my hard work. So, I think it's important that companies do things like this. It could be lunch once a month, wellness kits, or birthday parties! We need to celebrate our hard work somehow and have some fun at work.

In my experience, we must be mindful of how we define successful case management. Not all success stories are what we, as case managers, set out to achieve. The success of what has been accomplished and achieved should be defined by the recipient of the case management. As a professional you may find yourself surprised by the answer to whether or not case management has been effective. Sometimes the success is found and appreciated even on a smaller time scale than anticipated, which most professionals want long lasting success, but even a short period of time can be received positively by the client. To appreciate the small successes is still a “win.”

In my experience, the single most important thing is to develop relationships with your clients. You do this by getting g to know them, allowing them to know you, and showing them you care about every aspect of their lives. This was key for me and worked more often than it didn’t in helping clients be successful. They have to be able to trust you even if you have to give negative reports about them and that means being open and honest with them up front about your role, while building and maintaining that relationship.

From my professional perspective, a majority of the obstacles in case management, particularly those related to decision-making, can be avoided by adhering to foundational practices. This involves thorough preparation, including a comprehensive understanding of the local resources and services that best serve the client's interests and needs. It also requires transparency from the outset regarding our limitations, such as mandatory reporting. Once we have obtained informed consent from the beneficiary, the decision-making process becomes streamlined, primarily guided by the initial discussions with our client. This approach ensures decisions are tailored to meet the specific needs of the client."

Fostering a space where you can release any of your real and raw natural human emotion is a key process, I use to maintain a positive attitude. Case management may not always be a cookie cutter story, but instead a very real and raw rollercoaster that we bare witness too. A part of the work that sometimes does not get acknowledged is the human reaction responding to crisis.

THINK LOGICALLY/RATIONALLY ie Based on facts, not emotions Assess your own situations & yourself and act accordingly. Tone also matters.