Everyday Advocacy

Or, Top Ten Ways to be an Effective Music Therapy Advocate in the Workplace...

But can I confess? I think these would work in any profession!

1) Be professional. Be on time, with an appropriate appearance and demeanor for the facility you are working in. Follow facility guidelines for charting, communication, scheduling, etc. Be friendly with everyone on the staff--no one is beneath you, and everyone can help you!

2) Know when to talk. Be open to teachable moments--those random hallway conversations or tangents during meetings where you can pipe in knowledgeably with a little nugget of music therapy gold.

3) Know when to zip it. Don't be preachy. Of course you're excited about music therapy and its benefits, why else would you be doing the job? But sometimes it is best to let your work speak for itself. People will notice positive results, but if you are constantly achatter or seen as exaggerating, you may drown yourself out.

4) Actively seek ways to add value to your service. Notice needs you can meet, gaps you can fill, or perks you can provide. Maybe you can schedule your group at a certain time so another professional gets a lunch break. Perhaps you can offer a short singalong group to aid in a rough transition time. Could procedural support help during an unpleasant activity? While you shouldn't let yourself be used and abused, oftentimes taking on these little opportunities that present themselves can lead to bigger and better ones down the road.

5) Be prepared. Show up early for sessions, with all needed materials. Keep written session plans and data sheets at hand (that show a healthy respect for confidentiality, of course). Come to meetings with the appropriate tools (notebook, pen, calendar, data reports, etc.). Demonstrate that you are organized and have obviously planned ahead.

6) Be flexible. In sessions, be ready to alter, adapt, and accommodate yourself in order to get the best result for your client. That may mean rescheduling, letting one objective go for the day, or changing songs on the fly. Incorporate this into your planning by including a "variations and extensions" section that includes a few contingency plans for common issues you can anticipate. Observers and other professionals who work with the client will notice and appreciate this--and you've just helped demonstrate the flexibility of music as a therapeutic medium!

7) Make it meaningful. Even when an intervention simply looks like a "fun activity" to passersby, know exactly what your purpose is. Be able to state succintly why you are doing what you are doing--what need is it meeting, skill is it addressing, or behavior is it practicing?

8) Be willing to stand up for something you believe in. You don't have to take it to the street, but if something is important enough for you to invest your time, and you feel it is in danger of being lost, you have an obligation to communicate your thoughts to those considering it. This process can be more productive when using facts, non-confrontational language (verbal and non-verbal), an attitude of problem-solving, and active listening skills.

9) Be involved. Even if your facility does not help you with costs, be a member of your appropriate national, regional, and local professional organizations. Listen to a music therapy podcast or read our journals. Become involved in the great music therapy community that has built up on Twitter. Read blogs and attend workshops to build on your professional skills. These steps serve to further the field and make you a well-rounded professional--and will evidence themselves in a more polished practice.

10) Be positive. After all, we have so much good news to share as music therapists--don't be a Debbie Downer constantly growling about a facility's perceived shortcomings or gossiping in the parking lot about coworkers. Rise above and remember what Grandma taught you--if you don't have something nice to say, say nothing at all.

Anything I overlooked? What ways do you engage in everyday advocacy in your workplace?