Another in my occasional series on email solicitations that really make you wonder. I've left the link so you can get all the details. Does anyone really sign up for this one?
Dear Paul Levy,
If you'd like to learn strategies to effectively handle dreaded conversations with your most stubborn doctors, this is your last chance to register for a live, 60-minute Audio Conference:
"Dealing with Difficult Doctors: Eliminate Power Struggles & Bad Behavior"
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
http://www.pbconferences.com/diffdoc4C?ID=-1108971932
Getting into a power struggle with a difficult doctor is a bad idea.
Listen to proven strategies to conduct difficult conversations and improve your department’s culture. Save your hospital valuable time and money by nipping potential problems in the bud. During this 60-minute conference, you and your staff can clear the air, deal with problems quickly and build a culture of excellence.
***
Hosted by Progressive Business Publications, a leader in fast-read actionable advice on workplace issues, the audio conference gives you the opportunity to add immediate, impact to your marketing efforts in a manner that is:
FAST - No wasted time here. Get right to the heart of the matter in a 1-hour block designed to easily fit into your busy schedule.
CONVENIENT - No airlines. No travel. No time out of the office.
Listen from the comfort and convenience of your desk.
EASY - A telephone is all the equipment you need. Just dial in, punch in your access code, and you're in. That's it. Follow along with the audio conference handouts provided in advance.
ACTIONABLE - Our audio conferences provide money-saving tactics you can start using right when you hang up the phone.
IDEAL FOR MULTIPLE LISTENERS - Use a speakerphone and as many people as you want can listen in - at no extra cost to you. Many professionals use these sessions as a cost-efficient, time-efficient means of training supervisors, managers, and staff and reinforcing key issues in a fresh new manner that they will remember and act on.
AFFORDABLE - Priced at $199, it is a fraction of the cost of travel and attendance fees for other high-priced conferences or seminars.
The opening sentence made me laugh out loud, but the idea is not a bad one for some CEO's. Having been a member of a medical staff who finally went to the local newspaper when their concerns were blown off by the administration, resulting in myriad inspections, temporary loss of accreditation, and lasting damage to its reputation; I can attest that some people will need this conference. It's just sad that they get to the "C" rank without such skills in the first place....
ReplyDeleteFirst, this isn't from the company that I work for. :)
ReplyDeleteThe content of this email aside, it is difficult for smaller organizations to get the attention of our target audiences; as a CEO of a significant health care organization, you're the Alpha that any sales-person wants to have on-board, for the obvious reasons.
Smaller organizations, especially ones that only have that Once-a-year trade show (ala HIMSS) opportunity to build relationships are doubly behind the 8-ball.
The organization that I work for offers live web-seminars, however we don't charge for them; that we have a window of our attendee's time is more than enough.
And when they say "Dear Paul Levy", you can tell that they're doing a mail-merge. They're betting on Quantity having a quality all it's own... ;-)
One of the things that they may be thinking is that you have some staff members that need to improve their communication skills; if you forward this on to any member of your staff, would they not take it seriously? The Referral From the CEO's Office simplifies many sales-processes enormously.
Regards,
Mark
*who is going back to paying attention to his own sales territory.
Are you saying the topic is ridiculous or signing up a telephone conference is? I think there are plenty of physicians that are incredibly difficult to work with and new strategies might make the difference. I don't think that this seems odd at all.
ReplyDeleteJust funny to me to think that you could get much of value in 60 minutes. But, give it a try!
ReplyDeleteOh,heck--this is for hospital admins! I thought it was for patients and I had my checkbook out!
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:13:
ReplyDeleteLOL again!!! So true!!
Anon 8:11.
It might be worth $199 if you can avoid an angry physician going to the press or partnering with SEIU to sabotage you. All hospital CEOs know you do need to get along with your medical staff. Some CEOs need help with those skills...not you, Paul.
ReplyDeleteBecause I mentioned SEIU I need to stay anon. They are wicked.
It is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI wonder why you have not spam-ed it rightaway?
Is there a similar seminar for dealing with difficult nurses or difficult administrators?
ReplyDelete