The issue of lateness is a hot topic in HR leadership and one that isn’t generational.
The good news is that people usually step up to what we expect of them and the lateness issue is no different. Meaning if we set high expectations for our team members they typically meet them.
The important thing is that you realize that as a practice leader this may be an uncomfortable conversation, but what you do that first time… that second time… can make all the difference.
Where to start?
Start with setting an intention.
Setting an intention for how you deal with lateness will generate more confidence. You’ll feel more confident knowing that when you address the issue appropriately you are really standing up for all of your team members. We all deserve to have each other’s backs. That’s what makes for a wonderful practice culture and that’s what leads us all to step up to our best selves.
Where do you go from there? Watch the video below for the full details.
Congratulations! You’ve selected your new hire and today is day one of what you hope will be a long, mutually rewarding relationship.What’s your onboarding plan?
First impressions are powerful and lasting. The prospects for achieving success with a new hire will depend to a great extent on what you have planned for this new hire’s first day at the office. Putting your best foot forward matters, considering these statistics:
Healthcare is tied with banking and finance in having the second highest turnover rate of 15% in 2016, behind hospitality (20%), according to Compensation Force, a workforce blog produced by Altura Consulting Group in Wayzata, Minnesota
40% of employees who have quit a job voluntarily did so within six months of starting the position, according to ClearCompany, the inventor of a software/service talent management system. The cost of replacing an entry-level employee is 30-50% of their annual salary, according to ClearCompany.
Do the math, it’s eye-opening.
What is your onboarding plan?
This the question is often met by a surprised, deer-in-the-headlights look.
“What do you mean, onboarding strategy? We hired an experienced dental assistant, she knows what to do, right?”
The reality is this dental assistant does know what to do in her previous practice. She doesn’t have any experience in how to best support your philosophy of care and protocols. She doesn’t know your perspective on the practice culture or the nuances of everyday life in your practice. Without this knowledge, there is a steep, stressful learning curve ahead of all of you.
“Hmm, I guess I don’t have an onboarding strategy.” This doctor does have a strategy; unfortunately, it’s not a good one. There’s a long-standing tradition in dentistry of introducing new hires through a process known as the “sink or swim.” For the uninitiated, this consists of basically throwing the new hire into the deep end of the pool and hoping they learn how to save themselves. Some will thrive, some will struggle; others will simply choose to get out of the pool and go home. It doesn’t have to be this way.
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:
Culture is not a program, it’s a core belief that has staying power and could last forever
Culture is your differentiator; it’s why your team and your patients will choose you over another practice.
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
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.”
I’ve just spent a couple of days at the Smile Reminder corporate office in Utah taking a deep dive into the power of the Smile Reminder program. The team and culture at Smile Reminder, lead by Jim Higgins is an amazing inspiration and example of the power of passion and purpose at work, so it’s no surprise that the Smile Reminder software is game-changer for the dental practice. The SR program is so powerfully elegant and the support is so deep that, as a dental consultant, I simply can’t imagine practicing without it. From message delivery services to sophisticated email marketing campaigns, patient reactivation and proactive social media strategies, SR has raised the bar setting a new standard of excellence in patient communication.I was most impressed by the customer success representatives (CSR) and their commitment to their clients. We all know that nothing happens until the team engages with your resources and ultimately your patients. Your practice CSR at Smile Reminder proactively reaches out to your team to roll up their sleeves and create your practice video, email and newsletter messages inspiring your patients to be Raving Fans!
