6 ways to strengthen your team and grow the bottom line

You know how important it is to surround yourself with strong team members. They're vital to your success, which is why you've hired a group of talented, dedicated people who are more than capable of making valuable contributions to your practice. The problem is, that isn't happening. They just aren't meeting your expectations -- and instead of helping your practice flourish, they're holding your practice back.

If you don't have a strong team supporting you, your practice will never meets its full potential. But how do you turn struggling team members into thriving ones who excel in their roles? Here are six tips to help you strengthen your team, which will in turn grow your production numbers and your bottom line.

Sally McKenzie, CEO of McKenzie Management.

1. Lead your team

Remember, you're the CEO of your practice, and if you want your team members to succeed, you have to offer them guidance. Provide them with the direction they need, and you'll notice a huge difference in your team's performance.

Start by creating detailed job descriptions that make your expectations clear. Offer regular feedback, both positive and negative, and consider conducting performance reviews to help put your team members on the path toward success.

2. Make the right hiring decisions

This isn't a topic most dentists like to discuss, but you simply must hire the right people if you want to own a profitable dental practice. Bad hiring decisions can cost your practice thousands of dollars and lead to a lot of frustration, so resist the temptation to hire the first person who seems qualified for an open position. Instead, put a hiring process in place and follow it.

3. Don't ignore staff conflict

Conflict is bound to happen in your practice, and most dentists prefer to ignore it. But ignoring problems among your team members won't make them go away -- it will only make them worse, damaging your practice in the process. Address staff conflict as soon as you notice it. Talk with team members about the problem and work with them to find a solution.

4. Give them the training they need

If your team members don't know how to properly perform their jobs, they're not going to be very effective. It's important to invest time in training new employees, and to train your entire staff when you implement a new technology.

Any time and money you invest in team training is well worth it. Proper training will help your team members become more efficient, making them more confident in their skills and happier when they come to work each day. Once you invest in professional staff training, you'll see practice efficiencies improve and production numbers rise, and that means more profits for your practice.

5. Don't give out raises just because

Employees need to earn raises, not receive them just because it's been a year since their last bump in pay, or because you know they're struggling to make ends meet. You have to base raises on performance measurements. Otherwise, you'll send your overhead costs skyrocketing, and your team members will have no motivation to improve their performance.

Make sure your team members understand when raises can be discussed and under what conditions they'll be given. Set clear expectations and goals so your employees know exactly what it takes to earn a bump in pay. In my experience, this will motivate team members to excel in their roles, so they actually earn raises rather than just expect them.

6. Admit when it just isn't working

Sometimes you hire someone who seems perfect for the role, and it just doesn't work out. You hate to do it, but if you've provided a team member with the tools and training needed to succeed, and that employee still isn't meeting expectations, it might be time to part ways.

You can't build a successful dental practice on your own. You need a strong team behind you. Follow these tips, and you'll soon find that your team members are happier and more efficient as they work together toward one common goal: helping your practice reach true success and profitability.

Sally McKenzie is CEO of McKenzie Management, which offers educational and management products available at www.mckenziemgmt.com. Contact her directly at 877-777-6151 or at [email protected].

The comments and observations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DrBicuspid.com, nor should they be construed as an endorsement or admonishment of any particular idea, vendor, or organization.