Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Through my 18 years as a dental practitioner one thing I’ve learned that continues to ring true is that successful practice building starts with relationship building.
This means connecting with everyone who will play a role in the success of your dental practice. Keeping staff members in the know on the latest products and innovations, continuously delighting patients, and showing appreciation for great work are all important ways to grow your business.
Empower Your Team
“Hire, Train, Trust, Praise” is my practice building mantra. By hiring staff with great potential, training them to succeed, trusting their judgment, and praising their accomplishments, dentists can set their offices up for success.
But this process isn’t a one and done activity. The field of dentistry is constantly evolving with new research, products, and best practices. As a dental practitioner, staying up-to-date on the latest news and encouraging your team members to do so as well puts your office one step ahead of the curve. An easy way to do this is by holding weekly regroups with your team to share updates and interesting findings. Make sure everyone feels comfortable contributing because your team members might be the first in the practice to learn about new innovations. Hygienists and front office staff have the most face time with patients, so keeping them informed of your newest treatment options or exciting new technologies is key to spreading the word about your office’s services.
Indescribable Satisfaction
In my practice I’m always looking for things that can make my patients comfortable and save them money. When I find these new technologies, services or innovations, I know I’ve done my job. This reassures patients that we care about their health first and foremost which, in turn, generates compliments, rave reviews and referrals. When patients thank me or a member of my team for a great cleaning or sensitivity-free whitening treatment, my team knows they should always share that they’d love to provide the same top-quality service to that patient’s friends and family. This is often an instant success!
Job Well Done
Having a strong, motivated team is key in a patient-centric field such as dentistry. To promote that motivation, help team members feel appreciated for their hard work I like to surprise team members with well-deserved gifts thanking them for their hard work and contribution to the practice.
Whether it is something small such as movie tickets or a personalized touch such as replacing a team member’s broken windshield, I make this effort to show I care about their lives outside of work as much as I do their contributions inside the practice. Lastly, because having a great relationship with coworkers is the key to job satisfaction, I like to host regular socials and holiday gatherings that foster those connections.
Making sure my team is engaged with the practice and feel that their hard work is appreciated is an important part of my leadership role. When my team members feel valued and empowered, they are excited about their jobs. This is something my patients notice, and with my team working hard to make sure my patients have a great experience, every appointment is another piece of building my successful practice.