You learned how to be a great doctor, but you did not learn how to be a great leader.
You learned how to be a great doctor, but you did not learn how to be a great leader.
Employee management can be one of the most difficult parts of a healthcare practice. When chiropractors across the nation are polled, employee management comes up repeatedly as the number one problem in practice. Use the strategies below to lead a team effectively, remove the pain of management, and create long-term success!
Your Team Is a Reflection of You: The team will always show you what you need to work on within yourself and in your role in the practice. For example, if members of your team are late or rushed, you may have to be introspective and look at where you are late or rushed in your own life, with patients, or with the practice in general. After this reflection, work to correct the behavior or issue that has arisen within yourself and/or employee(s). Reflection from the team can be a true gift if you use it!
Communication: Often, most providers excel at communicating with patients, but effective communication must also take place with practice operations and the team. Lack of communication may directly or indirectly affect patient care. Various studies have shown that communication within a healthcare practice influences the quality of relationships, personal job satisfaction, and patient safety.
As a leader, ask yourself the following important questions about communication:
Sharing a group's intention, goals, or thought for the day during a team huddle before patients arrive can change the tone of the day to be more positive and patient-focused. Use this time to go over any patient notes, scheduling, or collections issues. Weekly team meetings at regular, consistent times allow for communication around patient care as well as the implementation of any new policies and procedures to allow for smoother operations on a daily basis. Team meetings are also a good place for individuals to air out struggles and celebrate victories.
Roles and Responsibilities: There are several job positions in typical chiropractic practice. Having a clear, written job description is the best way to ensure that both employees and the employer understand what is expected. Each role in the practice needs to be clearly delineated as a measure of how well an employee is doing in their position. Look at each employee and evaluate their special talents, gifts, and learning style.
Negotiables vs. Non-negotiables: What are the rules of engagement of your employee-employer relationship? Negotiables and non-negotiables provide boundaries for the relationship. These expectations should be discussed at the start of hiring to prevent disappointment or lack of clarity.
Recruit-Retain-Perform: The right employees come into our practice from the initial recruiting process. I always suggest using group interviews with specific questions that quickly narrow down the right employee. To hire the right employee, create a clear “wish list of characteristics and skillsets that you would like for the individual to have. This can be a great way to be clear about exactly what type of person you are looking for to join your team.
Retaining excellent employees is something that must be given thought to on a consistent and regular basis. Retention may not always occur because of a higher salary.
Finding what motivates individuals to do their best, affirmations that speak to each person, and ways to encourage and reinforce the team are tools that can help with retention. Team retreats, volunteering, group lunches, and a common purpose all help with retention. From a monetary perspective, profit-sharing and bonuses can be very good ways to appreciate jobs well done. Increases in pay and other benefits should always be linked to a performance review done on a regular and consistent basis. Creating a clear vision that is conveyed to employees on a periodic basis allows the team to feel connected to a sense of purpose.
Leadership Is an Evolution:
Recognize that leadership is a process of growth. Mistakes will be made as you and your team implement new things, which can be uncomfortable. One of the greatest gifts an employee can give you is giving notice or cause to fire. Although not a pleasant experience, I am a firm believer that employees who can grow with the team to the next level of success will do so. Those who cannot or will not progress forward with the practice will remove themselves from the environment so that the practice can grow to a higher level of growth and success.
Employee management is no easy task, but with the right skill set, preparation, and focused effort, you can lead a team to unlock the potential of your practice with your leadership.
Dr. Irum Tahir is the owner and lead doctor of High Point Chiropractic Wellness and owner and CEO of High Point Consulting, a global healthcare consulting firm that teaches courses on leadership, MD referrals, business development, and sales in health care. A frequent speaker in the chiropractic and healthcare space, Dr. Tahir was named "Top 40 under 40 Entrepreneurs" and has been invited to speak at the White House and the United Nations. Her TED Talk has reached more than half a million views. Find her on Instagram as @drirumtahir and on Facebook as Dr. Irum Tahir. Learn how to lead a team effectively by participating in a leadership retreat. You will grow your practice, patient numbers, and revenue with the right team in place. Text 619-342-6224 or go to www.ignitespark.com or www.drirumtahir.com to find out more information.
