Work habit

The above image from here.

The basic premise of organizational functioning is WORK HABIT. People are habituated to working, hence it keeps the organization going. Creating and strengthening of desirable work habits is what organizational management is all about. If the work habit of a MR suffers, employee productivity goes down. If managerial slothfulness happens, managerial working is lackluster. Work habit is vital for organizational well being, it is important for society too.

Eliciting desirable work habits

In any professional situation, there are desirable work habits and undesirable ones. For eg., a desirable picture, is when each employee shows up well on time at the workplace. Another desirable trait is involvement, each employee puts his or her heart, mind and soul in to the assignment and proactively proceeds to execute the tasks. When work is done with involvement, it will naturally show up in the form of acceptable results.

The opposite of the above picture is a situation where lackadaisical employees come as per their whim and fancy. Employees are more bothered about what is happening around them rather than the assignment allotted. Employees are frustrated or bored or distracted. Definitely, it is not a picture of a positive workplace with positive work habits.

Work habits in the pharmaceutical workplace

The pharmaceutical sector is a key, sensitive and health oriented one. Any small mistake can affect patient well being significantly. Hence, there is a lot of emphasis on SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and practices (like GMP - Good Manufacturing Practices, GLP - Good Laboratory Practices etc). Habits and attitude can influence pharma enterprise results in a major way.

The most important work trait in the pharmaceutical workplace (in offices, factories, trading establishments and during MR field work) is alertness. Pharma working requires a high degree of alertness and being aware. One cannot mechanically mix ingredients, go through the artworks superficially, or turn up at doctors' clinics and use the visual aid by rote - at every stage of pharma activity there is need to be alert and hence, pay attention to detail. One has to look at copy matter and visuals on collateral(s) with high alertness, lest an error would creep in.

While doing field work, again one has to be alert to the moods of target doctors and chemists, and to the goings-on in the marketplace (such as competitor activity, competitor collaterals, and trade association activities etc). Based on these observations, the MR has to modulate his communication.

How to build alertness in to work habit?

Alertness is being aware and highly observant. One is best at alertness when one knows there is a benefit by being aware. Another step to strengthen alertness is by encouraging reporting. When one knows reports are being read, and are important tools for decision making, alertness gets increased. Alertness creates actionable reports, which can improve organizational outcome.

Alertness helps bring in proaction in to the working style. Alertness also helps create defensive actions in the face of adverse circumstances. Today, NPPA (National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority) has started a TV campaign encouraging patients to ask doctors to prescribe economical quality brands. The Karnataka Govt. has asked Govt hospital doctors to prescribe 'generic generics' (unbranded generics). The DTAB (Drug Technical Advisory Board) has started "clean up" by banning drugs like PPA and paediatric use of nimesulide. Alertness to such events would inevitably impact strategy making.

Alertness is a habit that reflects knowledge seeking. Alertness implies a problem solving attitude too. Hence, alertness is an important personal and organizational trait that contributes to success.

With a careful placement of positive reinforcers for alertness, an alert organization can be created. Wish you all an alert and happy week ahead!! Thnks for your alert reading please recommend this blog.