by Ginny | Aug 15, 2011 | Practice Leadership, Team Development
The American Academy of Dental Office Managers
Here’s some cold hold truth: turnover is disruptive and expensive; working through it can also be a demoralizing experience for the entire team, 30% of new hires start looking for their next job after just 30 days and 46% of new hires will fail within the first eighteen months.
These statistics may help explain why the leading human resource topic on The American Academy of Dental Office Administrators (AADOM) attendees’ minds for our HR: The Guts & The Glory session in Nashville is recruitment and hiring.
Join us in Nashville as we cover HR topics from recruitment & selection to training, performance management, leadership, accountability, practice culture and morale. We’re shining the spotlight on best practices that develop your team members into your greatest competitive advantage while improving the bottom line. (AADOM’s website is www.dentalmanagers.com)
by Ginny | Jul 18, 2011 | Practice Leadership, Strategic Planning
“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully.”– Steve Jobs
Your focus determines the impact. It’s so critical that we don’t confuse activity with accomplishment or being busy with being productive. I remember hearing a story years ago about a man who was touring a corporate headquarters and remarked that one of the team was sitting with his feet up on the desk doing nothing. The executive leading the tour corrected the man saying ‘actually he’s doing exactly what we pay him to do.. he’s thinking.”
Do you make the time to think as you begin your week or your day? Do you clear your desk or do you clear your head? When is the last time you physically wrote down the top priorities you must be focused on? Urgent issues demand our attention, but they may distract our focus from where it must be if we are to achieve great results. Don’t permit someone else’s emergency to divert your precious time and attention. Your team is counting on you.
GinnyHegarty.com Dental Practice Development Inc.
by Ginny | Jul 15, 2011 | Practice Leadership, Team Development
Bob Kelleher of Southwest Airlines knows a lot about the power of purpose and the value of respecting your employees and treating them well. His company has been profitable for 38 years in a row – unheard of in the airline industry. He say that “the customer is always right” is a bunch of baloney if you have any respect for your employees. He believes that your employees are more important than customers and recommends taking care of your employees so they are able to treat your customers with warmth and hospitality that will keep your customers coming back, loyal to your company. CNBC Titans has a great episode devoted to Bob Kelleher’s story if you want to learn more.
GinnyHegarty.com Dental Practice Development Inc.
by Ginny | Jun 28, 2011 | General, Practice Leadership, Strategic Planning
Heard a fabulous lecture today by Art Jackson, President of Eagles Nest Performance Management, Inc. at the annual SHRM conference in Las Vegas. Art started off strong explaining we have great leadership examples all around us, but he feels one of the best leaders ever was Dorothy Gale.
Miss Gale:
1- found the synergies and dependencies between the organization’s needs and the individuals’ needs.
2- She developed and implemented a strategic plan, making course correctly where needed.
You might be wondering who Dorothy Gale is… here are some clues based on her successful leadership:
She did it with: 1) one person with low self-esteem, 2) another who was emotionally disengaged 3) someone who was risk-adverse 4) a little black dog that was no help at all and 4) a narcissistic witch on her tail the whole way….down that Yellow Brick Road!
Next time I watch the Wizard of Oz, I’ll be looking at it from a human resources perspective. Very provocative and inspirational presentation Art!
GinnyHegarty.com Dental Practice Development Inc.
by Ginny | Jan 6, 2011 | General, Practice Leadership
Just read a very provocative article by Jane Collins in the January issue of T+D (Training & Development) magazine, about knowledge transfer in the workplace. Dentists and Office Managers, how many times have you asked someone “How do you know that?” only to have them point to their head and say “It’s All Up Here?”
If you do not have your key systems fully documented, you don’t have key systems, you have key employees. When those key employees are out sick, on vacation, retired or if they opt out of your practice, you will be in a tough spot. If this is resonating with you, don’t wait another minute to start the conversation and the planning for how you will identify which key systems are not fully documented. I believe this is mission-critical and would strongly recommend that you set a schedule and a timeline along with identifying the teams who will be handling each key area of the practice. Remember, these documents should be active and kept up-to-date. This is not a once and done project.
by Ginny | Dec 13, 2010 | Practice Leadership
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
– George Bernard Shaw
I highly recommend that before you begin an important conversation with a colleague, take a few minutes to write down your comments and/or your questions. I’m willing to bet that as you begin to write you will change a few words, rethink a position or have a great new idea to add to your original thoughts. You’ll most likely choose your words more carefully too. You will also be much more in tune during the actual conversation since you are very well prepared. The end result will be a much improved interaction and a simpler path to the results you’re trying to achieve. Try it for yourself. It’s a solid candidate for a new best practice.
