Building On Our Parents’ Lessons

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IS OVER. The world has changed. We see this change at every turn as technology influences all aspects of our lives. For those of us whose parents raised us on the value of a great work ethic, it’s important to recognize and respond to the fact that the Industrial Revolution is over. With all due respect to our well-intentioned parents, a  great work ethic is no longer enough.  Today you must engage both your employee and your client’s hearts and heads to effectively connect and create practice growth and success.

After all the cutting edge education and sexy technology is in place, the magic doesn’t happen until your people engage. A Blessings White study done in 2011 reveals that only two of every six employees is truly engaged in the vision and mission of the business. Engagement then is the single biggest leadership challenge that business owners and managers face these days.

A recent INC Magazine article spotlighted the most effective leaders today realize that the workforce no longer responds to the Oz model of leadership; the all knowing, all powerful doesn’t play anymore. We’ve moved from The Age of Autocracy and leaders like Jack Welch in the 80s through The Age of Empowerment with leaders like Meg Whitman in the 90s and we’re now firmly in The Age of Nurture with leaders like Tony Hsieh of Zappos and Whole Food’s John Mackey.

We hear a lot about Culture these days, especially some very famous companies that differentiate themselves with their culture. For example, Apple has a culture of innovation. Zappos’ culture is to “Deliver Happiness.” Fed Ex and Southwest Airlines are companies that have very strong cultures.  It’s important to remember 3 things regarding your culture:

  1. Culture is not a program, it’s a core belief that has staying power and could last forever
  2. Culture is your differentiator; it’s why your team and your patients will choose you over another practice.
  3. Culture cannot be bought; it develops from the inside out, with habits over time.

In my upcoming webinar as part of the Patterson Dental Practicing With the Masters Series,  I am challenging attendees to ‘BE the Joneses.”  The challenge is to stop playing follow the leader and instead to lead on purpose. My intent is that you lead both deliberately (on purpose) and meaningfully (with a focus on your own unique purpose). Once you’ve come together to fully understanding Why You Do What You Do & Who You Are Being When You Do It, your systems, protocols will create structure around your culture.

Please join me on Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 11:00am Central

The T

DentistryIQ: “I Don’t Get Paid When Patients Don’t Show Up”

A hygienist wrote in to Dentistry IQ’s Thursday Troubleshooter with this concern:  “I was wondering if anyone else is having to clock back in and out if a patient fails to come and yes, I am a hourly employee. I would appreciate any info.” 

Is this a viable option or a classic “lose/lose” solution? 

 

 http://bit.ly/140UsHL

Stop Team Meeting Deja Vu

Ginny Hegarty Morning Huddle Video

About 10 years ago I saw a pattern developing around team meetings. One practice after another seemed to be having what I called “Team Meeting Déjà Vu.” The team and doctors would joke and say “Can’t we just shuffle last year’s meeting agendas and reuse them again this year? After all, it seems like we just keep revisiting the same problems, we never really solve anything.  I’ll bet many of you can relate to that feeling.

To be clear, these were not mediocre or even average practice, they were highly successful practices like many of you, trying to figure out how to get to that next level of success. They were basically putting band-aids on problems, quick fixes that would last for a couple of weeks or months and then old habits would reemerge.  This “déjà vu” or inability to come together to create long-term solutions creates roadblocks that will affect morale and profitability & hold you back.

This is the first of my Morning Huddle Videos for Dental Products Report. View the video for a few quick ideas to shake things up and avoid Team Meeting Deja Vu

Watch for Ginny’s Video Series in Dental Products Report’s Morning Huddle eNewletter

I was thrilled to be invited to participate in Dental Products Report‘s Morning Huddle eNewsletter. We recorded a series of videos that will be shared with the DPR audience. DPR’s Editor-in-Chief Thais Carter coordinated the video shoot. Topics included: Let’s Talk About…  The Heart of the Matter, The Power of Focus, Energy Breeds Resuls, Team Meetings, Success in Difficult Conversations and Breakthrough Communication Success. I’m excited for the series launch and to hear your feedback and best take aways

DPR Editor-in-Chief Thais Carter with Ginny Hegarty

DPR Editor-in-Chief Thais Carter with Ginny Hegarty

8 Tips To Be A Better Leader

Proud to once again be a part of Dentistry IQ’s 100 Best Tips   Here’s my latest contribution in Dentistry IQ 8 Tips To Be a Better Leader 

8 Tips to Be A Better Leader including a tip from Ginny Hegarty, SPHR

Real-time feedback is where people strategy and strong business results intersect! Nothing changes without your feedback. The more timely your feedback, the more agile your team, and, therefore, the more effective and profitable your business. Embrace a proactive human resource strategy for performance appraisals – this coaching should be a real-time conversation about personal and professional growth to challenge and support team members to take their performance to the next level. The world has changed: mobile phones, Facebook, Twitter, and texting create immediate feedback in every aspect of our lives. It’s time we raise the bar on human resource leadership in dentistry.
-Ginny Hegarty, SPHR Dental Practice Development, Inc.