It is critical to build a dental or orthodontics practice that can survive in your absence. Why is this so important? Because you can’t be in your office every minute of every day, nor do you want to be! A truly successful practice should function as its own ecosystem, and be able to work effectively with or without your presence.
Here are some tips on building a dental or orthodontics practice that can function effectively without your constant presence.
Hire Competent People
It goes without saying that you want competent employees working in your office, but you also want to empower them to make decisions and solve problems without your assistance. Learning how to delegate responsibilities is one of the most important aspects of your role as a business owner.
It may take some time and patience, but your employees will thank you for trusting them to do their jobs, to help your patients, and to contribute to the smooth running of your practice.
The first step is to hire the right team. Naturally you want skilled hygienists and technicians, but you also want employees who can get along well with others, possess confidence and initiative, and have a desire to perform well and continuously improve upon their skills.
The second step is to train your employees properly. They need to be well informed of what you expect from them, and how you want those expectations to play out.
It’s best if your expectations of their performances as well as your goals for your practice are clear right from the start. You don’t want your staff to be confused about their roles, or what you’re trying to achieve in your practice.
The third step is to let go of your reins and have trust in your team! Everyone needs a little bit of space to learn and grow, and micromanaging hardly ever works. If anything it is a hindrance to a business, because it fosters a climate of frustration and impatience.
Businesses that take the micromanaging route tend to have a higher turnover rate, so give your team the opportunity to succeed without you looking over their shoulders.
Build Effective Systems and Processes
Checklists are an outstanding resource for just about any business, and they are underused. Build checklists for every role in your practice, and make sure that your team utilizes them. Checklists may be simple, but they create a sense of grounding and focus. They are easily replicated, and in the chaos of the daily routine they can be used to regain footing.
Checklists can give you the peace of mind that things are getting done, even in your absence. And if something isn’t going correctly, you can simply go back and revise your checklists.
Get Out and Enjoy Yourself!
Once you’ve hired the right team members and ensured that they know their responsibilities, get out of the office and enjoy yourself once in a while! You didn’t start your own business just to be tied to it 24/7, you started it in order to enjoy more freedom! Use that freedom to clear your mind and enjoy your life. There’s nothing like space and perspective to energize and invigorate a person, and everything about your practice will thrive so long as you’re thriving first!
If you’re looking to revitalize your dental practice, and your life, give us a call today! We thrive on helping dental and orthodontists succeed beyond their expectations so that you can thrive too!