Time to get Real

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Change is hard. It is even harder to get rid of a staff member whom you know needs the job to feed their family or who has been with you for years. However, in order for your office to stay on top you need to take your staffing liabilities and turn them into your biggest assets. If that change cannot happen then it’s time to have a tough conversation and move your practice forward.

How can you turn your staff around? First, you need to identify what the problem is. Does your front desk struggle to stay organized? Or is she rude to patients? Or is your dental assistant never where you need her and forgets instruments needed for procedures?

When talking to your staff member about changing practices utilize I statements.  I see that you are working hard to create an office that matches our vision however; I feel we need to change some things.  I see you are working hard, now can we work together to help our office become more efficient?   

Next, ask them how they see things, and listen when they tell you.  Recap what they say to make sure you understand how they see things and to show you are really listening. Work to find out what they see the problems are.  Or what is holding them back. It is not a complaint session however, you need to know what is stopping them from completing things to your expectations otherwise together you cannot problem solve and fix the issues.

Once you have discussed what the problem is, work to solve the problem by asking them how they believe things can be fixed. Offer suggestions to tweak things to your expectations.  Remind them of the vision and mission of the office and ask them their part in achieving this? Set short-term goals with your employee and discuss choices if these goals are not met. This may have to mean termination but set this expectation up ahead of time so that they know what the goal is they are working towards.

In the end change is inevitable but the change you want should work towards the benefit of your office and ultimately your patients.  

Great teams take effort. Take time to work on your practice regularly to build teamwork and strengthen your results. For more information and to read other articles, please visit us at www.saltdpm.com.