I\u2019d say \u201cfail\u201d is all a matter of perspective.<\/p>\n
For the sake of our time here today, I\u2019ll define \u201cfail\u201d as\u2026<\/p>\n
anything less than optimal performance
\nfalling short of daily goals
\nlosing or missing patient opportunities
\nhaving drama, miscommunication, lack of focus
\nnot taking initiative, caring as if it were their own type of mentality
\nLet\u2019s get three things straight right up front.<\/p>\n
The bad news…<\/p>\n
You get what you expect, so pretty much, whatever the status is within the office\u2026it\u2019s your fault. You\u2019re the boss, leader, owner, if you hired them it\u2019s all on you, if you had someone else hire them it\u2019s all on you.<\/p>\n
If you are negligent or they are, it\u2019s all you.<\/p>\n
If you accept, ignore, or live in denial about the potential versus reality it does come back to the leader.<\/p>\n
A great coach once said\u2026\u201dIf the teams wins, we have awesome players\u2026great job, they worked hard and deserve it\u2026if the team loses, it comes down to the coach not doing an effective job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s my point.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to dwell on it \u2013 you just have to make it worth it.<\/p>\n
You want to be the leader because the leader makes the biggest impact, the most money, has the brightest most autonomous and independent future.<\/p>\n
Without your team\u2026you\u2019re a slave to your practice\u2026with your team, sometimes you might still be a slave to your practice.<\/p>\n
Okay. Enough negativity, though I don\u2019t consider it negative, I consider it accurate thinking.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the good news…<\/p>\n
They are people. It can be better. They are predictable. They want to be led.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a Dental Practice we\u2019re talking about\u2026no offense, but, it\u2019s like not that complicated compared to other businesses in healthcare or outside of healthcare.<\/p>\n
You are there, they are there, that\u2019s a step in the right direction, under one roof, can\u2019t be that difficult.<\/p>\n
This is the best part \u2013 THEY WANT TO WIN or they will leave. It usually isn\u2019t their lack of desire it\u2019s their lack of focused, accountable, performance-based direction and follow-through.<\/p>\n
We can fix that.<\/p>\n
Today\u2026will be the first of a 3 part series.<\/p>\n
We start with WHY TEAMS FAIL then we go to HOW TO FIX THEM and then finally I\u2019m going to share with you how to make them great, get them driving your practice forward relentlessly and performing at levels you\u2019ve only dreamed of or heard others brag about.<\/p>\n
In all the situations and every single practice I\u2019ve ever seen the team dynamic and effectiveness or lack thereof usually comes down to a combination of these 4 things.<\/p>\n
1. They lack direction, a vision<\/p>\n
This is the biggest one, it really is. If your team can\u2019t say \u201cwhere the practice is going\u201d what it\u2019s goals are, why it exists, and sell YOU as a Dentist you are in trouble.<\/p>\n
Think about it, would you get on an airplane whose destination you did not know. Well they aren\u2019t going to be able to focus on doing anything really powerful if they aren\u2019t buying into or aware of what exactly they are suppose to be focusing on and where they are going.<\/p>\n
Mission, Vision, Direction, Passion \u2013 these things matter\u2026it\u2019s what they do for a living but it should not just be a JOB.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the secret that no Dentist wants to admit, their motivation and passion will be about as great as yours, so, maybe just maybe, check yourself before you check them and then gather everyone up and let\u2019s make sure we\u2019re all moving the same direction going to the same place and get everyone excited about it.<\/p>\n
2. They have no performance standard and reward or punishment<\/p>\n
Look, this is why practices underperform. Plain and simple because no one is asked or expected to perform. I mean really, what numbers do you look at \u2013 ones from the past I would imagine.<\/p>\n
When is the last time you sat down and took each person one at a time and said\u2026<\/p>\n
Here is how I judge your level of success.
\nHere is why that is.
\nOn a daily basis we\u2019re going to look at these one, two, three things.
\nAnd then if you don\u2019t get them this is what happens and if you do this happens.
\nOkay.<\/p>\n
You aren\u2019t going to just wake up and have TEAM VICTORIES \u2013 sorry \u2013 get over it.<\/p>\n
You get INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE added up to the Team\u2019s Victory.<\/p>\n
And very few people focus on this.<\/p>\n
If they do, maybe it\u2019s quarterly or 2x a year \u2013 they must know how they can be successful, be given benchmarks, reasons, tools and then accountability.<\/p>\n
They will succeed or they will go into free agency and maybe or maybe not be picked up by someone else. Not your problem.<\/p>\n
You owe it to yourself, your patients, your team members that want to win to follow this critical piece.<\/p>\n
3. Sabotage, distraction, disagreement<\/p>\n
One line, one statement, one person.<\/p>\n
Usually that\u2019s what it is\u2026one person who is negative, doesn\u2019t fit, too controlling, old school, selfish, vindictive or whatever and they sabotage everything and everyone. They don\u2019t always know they are doing it \u2013 but they do.<\/p>\n
And then it gets worse because someone will find safe haven becoming their friend and then you will have two.<\/p>\n
When this happens you have two choices\u2026confront it, call them out, give them an ultimatum and a chance for change, controlled, time bound, performance based.<\/p>\n
Or you fire them on the spot.<\/p>\n
Stop being held hostage, it\u2019s stupid, immature, and lacks professional responsibility and fortitude. It\u2019s not just you they are affecting, your family, your health, your patients, your most valuable asset you have ever created.<\/p>\n
4. Communication and relationship<\/p>\n
Yes. This is the secret sauce. I\u2019m going to tell you all about it next week. Here\u2019s the thing. Just know this. You treat your patients like humans\u2026how about your staff. You have two sets of customers in your life (well actually 3 but that\u2019s a topic for another time), one who pays you and one who you pay. They all need nurturing and communication and relationship.<\/p>\n
Imagine if you did nothing but walk around the office grunting all day and never speaking. Well that\u2019s about what clinical chatter and patient talk is like not much better \u2013 you have to connect with your people personally.<\/p>\n
Or you have to have someone who will and they do it for you. If you don\u2019t want it to just be a job, show up, go home, get it over with, do just enough to get by kind of a thing then you have to get them engaged, show them you care and appreciate them, and make it mean something to them.<\/p>\n
Please think through these assess yourself and get ready for next week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"