CONNIE MERRITT

RN, BSN, PHN

TOPICS

Quitting Is Not An Option

Pressing Forward & Bouncing Back in Tough Times 

Quitting is NEVER an option with a champion and every champion you ever meet, will tell you - there was a day, a moment and an hour when they decided, with a choice of their own will - to never quit. The world around us is shifting and these are rapidly becoming the toughest times most of us have ever seen. Tough times call for tough decisions. The first decision is not to quit - but to persevere wisely and not give into a prevailing atmosphere of fear. Connie helps organizations and individuals understand how to take the necessary actions to make the decisions to meet their challenges by leading and inspiring...and NOT retreat into the paralysis of “just holding on.”  In this current economic climate people must be trained to lead in a forward-thinking way because “just holding on” is a strategy doomed to fail. 

In this program, people learn the best practice skills and strategies of moving forward – even during this tough time – realistically, but with optimism and sensibility. They learn how to manage and plan, focus, motivate, adapt and lead in order to thrive  -- not just survive -- avoiding the biggest mistakes in a “do more with less” environment.  Learn how to eliminate the factors that lead to bad decisions and task paralysis.  Learn skills for flexibility and managing change, uncertainty and stress as well as how to maintain productivity and morale. This program provides models on how to balance compassion with logic in the face of change; how to keep focus of goals when multiple demands are placed up them; as well as effective time management tips to lighten loads, getting more done and reducing stress. Content includes skills to eliminate anxiety and stress that hampers productivity along with important skills on how to handle resistance that comes with change.  

Get That Spark Back for Life 

 Too Busy For Your Own Good

Once you start asking what else you can fit into your schedule, where does it end? In these challenging times of “do more with less”  -- are you forced to multitask to get it all done? And, even if you get it all done, there’s still more!

This topic is so important and particularly at this time as it helps people and organizations make vital adjustments in their personal lives and careers to manage the multiple decisions and requests being placed in all areas of life – especially in a “do more with less” economy.  The demands of busyness can destroy our balance in life…our health, relationships, finances, and career. Busyness can scramble our priorities and all too often in the wrong order …leading us into stress and a “just hold on” lifestyle. Connie delivers solid content with a style that is engaging and versatile while providing life-changing principles for individuals and organizations to make wise decisions in managing activities, people, deadlines, and endless to-do lists (providing enough time to recharge “to do” the things that are really needed “to do”). 

Based on extensive research from her latest book, TOO BUSY FOR YOUR OWN GOOD (McGraw-Hill, 2009), Connie encourages her audience to take action with a supportive, practical plan for bringing new vitality into your life to get that spark back.  Gain practical skills for productivity and more value than ever before. Learn better ways to get organized, stay motivated, manage projects, work independently and handle the pressure in a “do more with less” environment of multiple tasks, deadlines, and people.

Learn how to handle demands, touchy topics, problem people and sticky situations with finesse and skill. You will feel on top of challenging situations with more energy as well as new confidence in yourself and your abilities -- once you put this extensive collection of tips, secrets and skills to work.

Dealing with Complainers, Bullies, Grumps, Curmudgeons and Other Difficult People

Tame the Lions in Your Life

Learn time-tested ways to manage unruly “lions”— those difficult people like complainers, bullies, grumps, curmudgeons, and passive-aggressives. These are the “lions” that can tear people apart, decrease productivity, and increase stress. There are certain people in every circle that could win awards for Curmudgeon of the Year. As well, there are those better known for their bullying behavior, unrealistic demands, condescending tones and unhealthy controlling gestures -- while others specialize in Whine n‘Jeez Parties!  Learn powerful skills for resolving conflict as well as options for handling hostility and reducing frustration, intimidation and manipulation by those who demand, bully, complain or are passive aggressive. Discover how to keep unmanaged conflicts, disagreements and out-of-control emotions from harming your important working and personal relationships. 

This session provides step-by-step strategies and approaches to help anyone when faced with difficult people while managing through and maintaining their productivity. You will master the skills for the confidence, professionalism and competence for a positive, successful outcome.

The Healthcare Rx for Tweets, Googlers and Geezers 

The Future of Healthcare & What to Expect This Decade

What are the future trends that will rock healthcare and how will they affect you? Do you wonder what healthcare will be like in this coming decade? You must be ready for an extensive shift in focus in the healthcare management toward concentration on maximizing the length and quality of life. You are a technological-age caregiver, dealing with new fields such as genomics, bioinformatics and pharmacogenomics. You are thrust into a world of complex responsibilities, confusing dilemmas and high-stakes decisions – all in a pressure-cooker environment where evidence-based outcomes and the “right thing to do” reigns. With the information in this program you will explore your options and opportunities for teaching wellness and coordinating patients with their environment, technology and treatments.

Stress-Busting Breakthroughs in a 24/7 World 

Stress-Busting from a Critical Care/Trauma Nurse

Are you stressing over the challenging “do more with less” times, sweeping layoffs, large assignments, increased responsibilities, deadlines and reform controversies? If you’re worrying over red tape, a stalled career, job security or personal upheavals, strengthen yourself with the latest remedies for stress. From recent research, more than half of the people polled report an increase in stress since last year. Therefore, most people in your organization are exhausted or traumatized and will likely experience stress-related symptoms. You can identify your hot buttons, recognize when you cross the line to damaging stress and learn how to reduce your own (and others) anxiety and stress. 

This program helps you by computing your present stress level, as well as providing solutions to stress that work. Discover mental habits to combat stress and identify physical methods to deescalate tense situations. Explore and utilize your most powerful way to diffuse stress and understand how to reverse the damage of prolonged anxiety.