Hello Friends,
November is Gratitude Month
Why does gratitude in the workplace matter? Gratitude helps to strengthen and motivate your team, encouraging employee loyalty and engagement.
Yes, your employees may show up each day physically, but are they engaged? Are they there mentally and emotionally?
One of the most common issues I hear from dental employees is that they don’t feel appreciated. Feeling a lack of gratitude is often the main reason why they leave their employer or suffer a decline in positivity and productivity.
Hint: Sadly enough, I hear the same thing from the employer – my team doesn’t appreciate me, and/or my team is unthankful. So if you’re an employee reading this you’ll find that these same ideas for showing gratitude may be used for showing appreciation and gratitude to your employer.🙂
Don’t assume they know that you appreciate them just because you give them a paycheck every week. Show them by your words and actions that you value and appreciate their contributions to the success of the practice.
Here are several ways to express and show gratitude for your dental team…
Invest in them – Thoroughly train your employees (new & old) on your practice goals, systems, expectations, software, telephone skills, dental procedures, protocols, etc. Include regular continuing education – you can do this with in-office training, webinars, lunch and learns, and seminars/classes outside of the office.
Give them your attention – Conduct quarterly commendation and performance evaluations. This also allows them to share with you how things are going for them and their ideas to improve the office.
Don’t Overwork them – If you regularly overwork your employees they will eventually burn out before that happens though, negativity and feelings of being underappreciated will set in. Avoid working into their lunch hour and after their scheduled end time.
Accountability – Hold each employee accountable to uphold the same high standards of performance and attitudes. It’s been said that “what you allow you encourage.” Once you make the decision to no longer tolerate or allow poor behavior and attitudes in your practice, you’ll breathe a huge sigh of relief and the rest of your employees will know just how much you care and appreciate them.
Greetings – Say hello & goodbye to your employees at the start of the day and the end of the day.
Use your Manners – Say please and thank you. Make it a habit to say please every time you ask for something. Saying thank you improves your office, your health, and boosts morale.
Thank you notes – a thoughtful handwritten thank you note will go a long way in helping someone feel appreciated and valued.
Praise – Commend and praise your employees in front of and to your patients.
Feed them – Bring in breakfast, snacks, or lunch.
Gifts of Appreciation – Surprise your team with thoughtful gifts of appreciation (gift cards, cash, treats, etc.)
Work Anniversaries – Acknowledge work anniversaries. Don’t take their loyalty for granted. Make sure they feel wanted and appreciated.
Encourage Creativity – Host “Brainstorm Sessions” with prizes for creative marketing ideas, solutions to improve office efficiency, welcome more new patients, patient retention, and how to have more fun as a team.
Work Environment – Show your team just how much you care by providing a nice work environment for them to work in. Is your office due or past-due for a good cleaning and organizing? Maybe even some remodeling or redecorating?
Give them your time – Spend time outside the office with your team engaging in fun team-building recreational activities. Do this at least quarterly.
Be Consistent – When gratitude becomes a habit, so do its benefits.
These are simple and inexpensive ways to let your team know how much you care. I encourage you to put them into action. When you do you’ll quickly learn that it is a triple win – a win for your team, a win for your patients, and a win for you (you’ll not only enjoy better health but practice growth too).
“Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life“. —Northrup Christiane
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Practice Owners, if you would like to grow and improve your dental practice…please feel free to reach out to me to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation coaching call at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com.
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Yours for Greater Success,
~Betty (Dental Coach)
