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2013 – Teleclass Schedule – Poster

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We are excited about our upcoming teleclass schedule for 2013 which will start this Tuesday, March 19th.

We have an awesome line-up of teleclasses for you and your staff in the areas of chiropractic philosophy, office procedures and reimbursement.

Class description and registration can be found on the calendar on this site.

We have also prepared a poster you can print and post on the wall in your staff commons area for an easy view of upcoming class.  [Link]

If you can catch these classes live, they are free! Otherwise they will be in our vault for those of you who are active with us.  Hope to “hear” you in class.

Chiropractic Practice Management, Marketing, and Leadership Recorded Training Webinars

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This is a list of our practice development recorded webinars.

Each is a recording of a slide show driven lecture, each filled with an abundance of practice information derived from in the field work – and plenty of slides!

Currently, you have to be active on a PM&A program. By this summer, these will be available on and individual basis for a small fee.

 Chiropractic CEO Webinars

 Creating your Dream Team Summary and VideoA virtual “live” interview with the doctor and staff of a true chiropractic dream team. Find out what they do to achieve high numbers, profit, and fun.

 The Fast Flow Practice CEO  -55 minutes webinar video and summary.
One of the biggest challenges in running and growing your business is the time it takes you away from seeing patients and from your family.  We have solved this with what we call the Fast Flow Practice CEO System.   A new system derived from old principles.
Management by the Numbers: 44 minutes – Summary and Video
Management is a subject that has techniques to help you go from where you are to where you want to be.  Management By the Numbers (MBN)  can be faster and more accurate than other forms of management, and help build staff morale and make it more self directed.

Capacity Constraints : 33 minutes – Summary and Video
Do you work hard but you just don’t get as far as you should? The reason may be that you are running into unseen bottlenecks that are choking off your production and suffocating your growth. This is the subject of Capacity Constraints.

How to Be an Effective Practice CEO  Video
If you are struggling with the ups and downs of a stressful practice, or have finally “settled” into a comfort zone producing much lower than you know you are capable of, this program is for you.

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Chiropractic Office Manager Webinars

 Chiropractic Manager Webinar – Roles and Goals  Summary, Video and Study Guide
What Are The Key Roles In Your Office? A hidden barrier in many offices has to do with confusing roles and job duties. Clear these up and see how much smoother patients and paper flow, and happier the team becomes.  Small office or big health business, clarify these 8 roles and the numbers will go up.
 

Chiropractic Manager Webinar – Job and Performance Reviews    Video
Employee reviews are often neglected, or are dreaded by employee and doctor. This webinar covers the basic steps to make them effective and positive for both doctor and employee.  Approx 37 minutes.

Chiropractic Manager Webinar – Motivating Your Staff – Video  Ms. Phyllis Frase shares 5 secrets to keeping yourself and your staff motivated.

 Chiropractic Manager Webinar – Team Meetings   Summary, Video and Study Guide. This is an overview of 8 essential actions to help you improve your meetings and make them faster, more fun, and more effective. Plus, different types of short meetings that your team can grow.

 Chiropractic Manager Webinar –  The Office Manager Job Description  Summary, Video and Study Guide. This class covers 17 essential duties of the office manager. Both the doctor and the office manager should watch and discuss these duties.
 

Chiropractic Manager Webinar-  How to Best to Train Your Staff  Summary, Video and Study Guide This webinar covers eight tips  to improve the performance of your team.  Training plays a big part in team building.
 

Chiropractic Manager Webinar– How to Hire the Right Team Member   Summary, Video and Study Guide.
This webinar  covers eight priniciples for hiring the right team member from knowing when to hire, who to hire and how to hire.
 

Office Manager Webinar – It’s All About the Patient, the Doctor and the MISSION [Summary, Video and Study Guide]
There are procedures to help the patients and procedures that help the doctor help the patient and then there is Everything Else.  Tips on how to deal with Everything Else. (30 minutes)

Office Manager Webinar- Part II – Tips and Tricks to make the office more efficient[Summary, Video]
Part II reveals tips and tricks of what an office manager can actually do in the office on a day to day basis to make things run smoother and  significantly improve the volume and quality of services. (55 minutes)

 Office Manager Webinar- Part I – Fundamentals of Practice Management [Summary, Video]
Part I covers the fundamentals of Practice Management (55 minutes)

 

Chiropractic Marketing Webinars

Innate Marketing  (55 minutes) – Webinar plus Summary.
There are stories that float around every now and then about how some offices can simply “think”  “New Patients” and they come in.
Are these stories an urban legend? A myth, or a fact? Can staff or doctors “concept” new patients in the door. Is this true? If so, how can you do this?  10 steps to help you generate more patient visits through “concepting.”

Chiropractic Special Promotions  (55 minutes) – Webinar plus Summary.
This webinar covers different promotions by month. You will learn 2-4 different practical promotions for each month of the year. More importantly, you will learn how to organize them so that they are time effective and productive.

Patient Retention – Summary and Video
If you understand the underlying basics of patient retention your appointment book should always be full.  Covered in this webinar is: Patient retention should be based on Principles – not gimmicks. Where are we you taking your patients? Why they quit?  The cost of not getting them there.

 Chiropractic Patient Education – Summary and Video (45 min)
We go over 7 basic strategies that cover the entire horizon of patient education and explain why it is so necessary to educate your patients if you want them to be healthier.

 Infomercials. – Summary and Video .
Whatever happened to Infomercials? They’re still around and they still work. And you can do them very inexpensively. You just need to know how. This webinar will give you practical examples and include forms for you to use in producing your own amateur and informational marketing that can help you create more new patients and keep the ones you have.

 Internet Marketing and Social Media. – Summary and Video . This webinar covers some fundamentals regarding social media, Facebook, and general Internet marketing. (35 minutes) (not yet posted)

 The Art of Spinal Screenings. – Summary and Video . Spinal Screenings – The Queen of External Marketing.  Everyone has done at least a few  spinal screenings. You have probably had some success with them. But how much better could you do if you knew the fundamentals of this time tested external marketing activity?  This is a three part series on spinal screenings. This session we will review the most fundamental principles of screenings. Get these, and all else will follow.(45 minutes)

 Scheduling Screenings and other External Events – Summary and Video .  How to Schedule External Events And Create External Referral Sources.  Types of events, Outcomes, Purpose. How to plan the events and get them scheduled.(30 minutes)

Marketing Tips: Earth Day, Spring Promotions, and other Tips – Summary and Video This webinar covers: Powerful internal marketing script, Report of findings referral procedure,  upcoming spring promotions, with special attention to utilizing Earth Day as an opportunity to promote your services.

Short Overview of Chiropractic Marketing Management with Some Marketing Tips – Summary and Video   This is a short version of marketing management and some tips for the upcoming months. What are the three levels of marketing?  What part does communication have in your marketing?  How to engage your patients in your marketing efforts.  Upcoming special promotions. (30 minutes)

Marketing Management, Part I and Part II – This is the longer version of how to manage your marketing, and why.

Chiropractic Marketing Management – Session I – Summary and Video The Why, What and How of Marketing. Getting your Marketing off the Ground. (55 minutes)

Chiropractic Marketing Management – Session II – Summary and Video  Specific Marketing Manager Duties – Your Job Description.  General Overview of the Most Effective Marketing Procedures in Each of the 11 Marketing Categories (55 minutes)

 

2013 Chiropractic Team Training – Live Teleclasses – at Petty Michel & Associates

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Ms. Phyllis Frase and Ms. Dana Pittner will be presenting 10 special training classes for chiropractic teams in 2013.

Petty Michel & Associates
Phyllis Frase and Dana Pittner
Chiropractic Team Teachers and Coaches

These classes will be offered free of charge when sitting in for the live session. (Fees may apply for viewing the archived edition)

Classes will be held on the third Tuesday of every month from 12:30 to approximately 1:45.

March 19, 2013- What Makes Chiropractic  So Special?
Getting Oriented With Chiropractic Basics: History, Science – Art – Philosophy, Key Terms.

April 16, 2013 – Extra-ordinary Service:
8 basic everyday actions to deliver WOW to your patients.

May 21, 2013- 7  Ways To Educate Your Patients During Your Day – And Why.

June 18, 2013- Over the Counter Collection
Strategies and Tactics.

July 16, 2013 – The Secrets Of Scheduling:
Cluster booking, and multiple scheduling the right way.

August 20, 2013 – Recall Systems that Work.

September 17, 2013- What You Should Be Telling Your Doctor.
What your doctor doesn’t know that you should tell him/her, and why.

October 15, 2013- Leadership Role in Chiropractic

November 19, 2013 – Purpose, Procedures and Checklists: How To Improve Your Skills And Success In Chiropractic.

December 17, 2013- Your Golden Future in Chiropractic

To Register Please Visit the Calendar of Events and follow the instructions.

For all classes register immediately by selecting the class(s) of your choice on the calendar and click the Register Now link below the class description.   You will automatically, via email, receive your special log-in access number where you can participate via computer, or by telephone only.

*** Each class will require a new access number and a new phone number. To attend the conference, all you have to do is call the number from any phone, enter the access number, and you will be in the class.

If you are a PMA client, you will receive  a special email during the week before the talk with the access number and new phone number. You can also find this information on the PMA Member’s web site at www.pmamembers.com.  It will be a posted a few days before the teleconference.

For questions, please give us a call at 1(414) 332-4511.  Or Email!

Chiropractic Health Never Takes a Holiday

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AUTHOR NOTE:  The links below are now working…. if you have a problem accessing, please contact Linda at 262-749-0221.

This is a busy season, isn’t it?

But, usually a productive one. Although there are the usual complaints, in the big picture I think we all do very well. For the most part, we accomplish many good deeds during this time.

First, there is the Spirit of Christmas – which is always a good thing. Regardless of how devout you are to Christ’s birth, different religions and different cultures recognize this time in their own way. We are all maybe just a bit nicer to each other, or at least called upon to think about having more compassion for each other.  Tragedies also remind us of this.   In my opinion, the Spirit of Christmas transcends all religions.

Then, there are the reunions. Family and friends get together. Hectic? Usually. Messy? Often. Sometimes agitating? Yes.  But still, it is a time for meeting together and talking and eating and sharing. And loving.

Did I say eating? Yes. That is usually yummy good, as long as we do not over indulge in too much or too bad food.

 NOW TO A PRACTICAL PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SUGGESTION: Don’t’ forget to politely remind your patients – “This is NOT a time to fall off the Wagon of Health!”

Health Doesn’t Take a Holiday

Embrace this time. Have fellowship, share kindnesses – and have yourselves a Merry Little Christmas. But maintain your health and insist your patients do as well.

Keep them to their appointments and schedule them through January.

The links below direct you to pdf posters for examples.   They say: “Health Never Takes a Holiday.” You can place these on your front desk and in your adjusting rooms to remind patients to keep to their schedules and to get scheduled if needed.

Clients may go to their members’ site and pull down the same files as customizable Word posters. There is a link for that below.

If you are not a client and want a Word file, just let us know.  We will get you one.

Use them if you want, or make your own.

Also, just for fun there is a link to a poem adapted from “The Night Before Christmas”: “Twas the Day Before Christmas.” Not sure who wrote and would like to know for attribution.

Now, if you think about it, what is the most important element to real health care?

… (thinking)….

Getting adjusted? Eating right? Exercising right? Yes, all these and more.

But even more fundamental is doing them. And to do them, you need to schedule them. This is why I place such an importance on the dynamic nature of the Front Desk. If patients are not scheduled, they don’t come in, and nothing else can happen.  Too obvious, but often overlooked or under stressed.

In the real world, the best guarantee for chiropractic health is the SCHEDULE.

From all of us at PM&A

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, and
May your hearts be light …

–Ed

Health Never Takes a Holiday (PDF)

Health Never Takes a Holiday-2(PDF)

Links to the members site for the fully customizable version of Health Never Takes a Holiday. (You will need to enter your user name and password.)

Health Never Takes a Holiday (DOC)

Health Never Takes a Holiday-2 (DOC)

Chiropractic Christmas Poem – “Twas The Day Before Christmas”

 

 

 

Get New Patients By Just “Concepting” Them

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The stories exist.

It is not talked about much. Most offices don’t know about it, and those that do, often just take it for granted.

But we have seen it happen and it never fails to amaze.

One office I worked with had been doing badly with new patients and office visits. It was March and numbers had been declining since the previous summer. They had tried about everything – new marketing procedures, new staff, but nothing was working.   It was a three doctor office – all good chiropractors and the support team was great.  But everyone was exhausted at trying to increase the volume. They all looked haggard and disillusioned.

The senior doctor and I worked out an ambitious plan to solve the problem. We decided to hold a staff meeting to go over our ideas with everyone.  The meeting lasted about an hour and a half. Everyone brought their lunch and we talked.  We discussed items on the plan and followed an agenda the doctor and I had put together. At the end of the meeting, the mood of the office seemed to change.

Then, the phone starting ringing.

Literally, off of the hook. Existing and inactive patients starting calling in for appointments. I remember that the front desk team scheduled at least 4 new patients before I left that afternoon.  By the time I left, what had been a sullen office in the morning was now an exuberant and festive party of healing in the afternoon.

I am really not exaggerating. Looking over their numbers at the end of the month, the doctor and I noticed that they had their best month ever for office visits and new patients.

Their success was not due to a new marketing or management procedures.  It was because of something magical.

This magical thing – you too have it. You have probably even experienced it a few times. It is not always easy to acquire, but never the less, it is there. If you can grab it, harness it, it will help you towards your dreams.

Our webinar this Thursday, November 15 will cover 8 solid steps to uncovering your magic that can help you boom your office – and your life.

The power that made your practice is the power that can heal and grow your practice.

Learn how this Thursday.

Register Now

July Webinars- Positive Job Reviews and Practical Chiropractic Patient Education

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This month, we have 2 webinars designed to help you grow your practice and provide better service to your patients. These are in addition to our world class expert consulting and coaching, our free articles on our web site and those especially for our clients in our PM/A Members Library.

These are short discussions with plenty of slides and examples, along with follow up summaries.

Register now. Keep training!

  •  Office Management –  How to Do An Employee Job Review For Your Chiropractic Office So That Everyone Wins.
    Are these job reviews really necessary? Do employees get raises automatically every year? Employee reviews are often neglected, or are dreaded by both employee and doctor. This webinar covers the basic steps to make them effective and positive for all concerned.Thursday, July 12, 12:30pm   Registration
  • Marketing Management – Educating Your Chiropractic Patients – 6 Programs that Work.
    Does patient education work? How much of it just a sales pitch by companies to get you to buy their brochures and videos?  Even if it does work, what are some practical steps you can use in our office? We will discuss 6 simple programs that are working to help increase patient referrals and retention.
    Thursday, July 19th, 12:30pm  Registration

****To view the calendar and/or register  for our other webinars as an active PM/A client or guest, please go here: LINK 

Chiropractic Principles, Chiropractic Infomercials, Management by Numbers: 3 New Webinars in June

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June, 2012
Milwaukee, WI

A tidal surge of politics rampages across this state with a big recall election for our standing governor taking place. But this surge will no doubt continue across this country for the rest of this year. Like massive tectonic plates shifting, the forces will be widespread as more people become involved in current events.

No matter what side you take in politics, if any, and there are more than two sides, there is only one side when it comes to taking care of your patients. That decision is already made for you by virtue of being a chiropractic doctor and chiropractic team member. That side is simple: deliver the highest quality care and service possible for your patients.

You must always do what is best for their health. That is never an issue.

Similarly, you must always do what is best for the health of your business that provides this care. It too must be strong and healthy so that it can provide the facility that allows you to give provide for your patients.

We encourage you to stay informed on all sides of the issues that concern you, for there is usually some truth to be found  in every corner of an issue.  But even more, we encourage you to consider voting with the quality of your clinical care and the quantity of your chiropractic services.

Yard signs for your cause or candidate are fine. But even louder should be your voice for the health freedoms of your patients – freedom from toxins in their water, food, and air.  Freedom from misinformation about chiropractic care.  Freedom to be healthy without drugs or surgery.

In addition to our world class expert consulting and coaching, our free articles on our web site or those especially for our clients in our PM/A Members Library, this month we have 3 “kick-gluteus maximus” (management term for kick-ass) webinars.

  • Office Manager Training: How to Motivate Your Team and Keep Them Motivated With Chiropractic Principles and Philosophy. With Phyllis Frase (Date, Time. More info below.)
  • Marketing Manager Training: The New Infomercials For Chiropractors That Work and Are Inexpensive, Fun, And Effective. Learn How. (Date, Time. More info below.)
  • Executive Management: Why You Shouldn’t Manage Your Practice by Statistics…And Why and How you Should. (Date, Time. More info below.)

Attend these webinars and VOTE WITH YOUR CARE.

Think global, but act local and make your voice heard by setting an example of the best health care provided in the best run health care business in your town.

Webinars for June, 2012 from Petty Michel and Associates

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OFFICE MANAGER TRAINING

How to Motivate Your Team and Keep Them Motivated

This webinar will provide your office manager with the tools to motivate your team by using the key fundamentals of chiropractic philosophy.

The webinar presenter will be Ms. Phyllis Frase, an internationally known chiropractic team trainer. As a team teacher with the Parker Seminars since 1998, she also has taught across the country at many state conferences, and as far away as the New Zealand Chiropractic College.  She has been a PM&A consultant and coach since 2007.

An outstanding speaker, she is also a hard worker and gives her all to her client’s success.

45 minutes with Question and Answer available. Excellent for all office managers and doctor/owners.

Thursday, June 14th, 12:30 CDT. Registration

 

MARKETING MANAGER TRAINING

The New Infomercials for Chiropractors That Work

Whatever happened to Infomercials? They’re still around and they still work. And you can do them very inexpensively. You just need to know how.

This webinar will give you practical examples and include forms for you to use in producing your own amateur and informational marketing that can help you create more new patients and keep the ones you have.

Ideal for the doctor owner, marketing manager, and anyone involved in practice marketing.

45 minutes with Questions and Answer Available.

Thursday, June 21st, 12:30 CDT Registration

 

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT

Why You Shouldn’t Manage Your Practice by Statistics…And Why and How you Should

C.A. Reports have been around for a long time. Every management company seems to require you to report your numbers. But is this a good idea? What are the hidden downsides of doing this?

Even if you have the numbers, what do you do with them? How do you use them. What about ratios? And then there are those financial reports your accountant sends you – like they should. What should you do with these other than just file them?

The fact is, IF you know how to use the numbers of your practice your life will suddenly be much easier. Practice “noise” will dissipate and the time spent as a CEO will be less, AND more effective.

This webinar will give you both the benefits and risks associated with using statistics to manage your business, with follow up materials to use in your office.

A must for Practice CEO’s. We also encourage you to include your office manager to participate in this webinar.

45 minutes

Thursday, June 28th, 12:30 CDT. Registration

Cal Jam Special Offer for Chiropractors

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Come on down to Cal Jam 2012!

Our great consultant and coach, Ms. Phyllis Frase, will be speaking at the 5th Annual California Jam, presented by the Dead Chiropractic Society in Costa Mesa California.  Register before January 15th and mention the Promo Code of FRASE for the special discount mentioned in the flier below.

All registration is handled through Cal Jam by calling the number below.

Call Today 949-250-0600

for more information: http://www.caljam.org/

Motorcycles, Natural Hot Springs, Sushi, and Chiropractic Philosophy – Wowee! What a Weekend!!

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In the natural hot springs.

In the natural hot springs.

I just returned from a few days in Costa Mesa CA.  I attended CalJam, a chiropractic philosophy/music convention, with Ed Petty from PM&A.   It was refreshingly different because of the focus on chiropractic’s unique philosophy combined with music.

The man behind it all is Dr. Billy DeMoss and his fun-loving personality really shows in the event. Check out my video of BJ Palmer resurrected.  [Longer Version]

Of course, I had to give Ed a lesson about why I’m called the “down-to-earth” doctor (www.thedowntoearthdoctor.com), a big part of it is going on adventures, so I took him on a high desert search for a natural hot spring called Deep Creek Spring. Yes, those are my feet in the picture.  Ed reciprocated by guiding me on a motorcycle tour one of the days – I drove my first Harley and now I’m hooked!  Thanks Ed.

My Harley in Laguna Beach, CA

My Harley in Laguna Beach, CA

As I listened to many of the greats like Dr Dan Murphy, Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, etc. I became even more grateful for the 25 years of tremendous success I’ve had in chiropractic. “Best profession in the world!” is what I told a 2nd semester student I bumped into there.  He was wondering if he made the right decision, given all the negative news circulating about the business of practicing lately.

The speakers were talented and the content inspiring, but it also became apparent to me, that the seminars of PM&A are better in the sense that they lack sales. What I mean is that all or most of the speakers at CalJam, as inspiring and fun as they are to listen to, have a hidden agenda – they want to sell me something. That’s one of several reasons why I stayed with PM&A as my practice management guide, and why I’m excited to now be a part of their team.

I teach a class around the country called Reclaim the Joy of Practice, based on my book of the same name (www.reclaimthejoy.com) for content, I’m always on the lookout for exceptional DCs.  I bumped in to Dr. Gerald Clum, president of Life West Chiropractic College.

Listen to his brief message in response to my question “What can chiropractors do to be more successful?”  LINK.

Doctor, how can you apply that message today?

Chiropractic Staff ROI and Motivation

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Staff Management: An Essential Component To Practice Success

A big reason for your chiropractic practice is doing well is because of your staff.  And,  a big reason your chiropractic practice is not doing well is because of your staff.  Either way, your staff plays a major role in the success of your business.

How much can a good staff member contribute to the office? What is the Return On Investment for staff expenses?  There does not seem to be any good research on this for chiropractic offices. (If you know of any, we would appreciate the references.) We have seen some studies and based upon these and our experience it would be safe to say that a staff member should contribute at least double what you pay them.

This means that if you pay a Chiropractic Assistant, for example, $2,500 (including taxes, FICA , etc.) a month, you should at least be able to generate $5,000 because of her.  On the other hand, when a staff member is not performing well, their contributions can go to zero, or even lower.  If they are alienated from the doctor and the practice, they can actually become a liability.  An unhappy or defiant staff can turn away patient referrals, discourage patient phone appointments, create disharmony with other staff, and many other costly problems.

Staff Turnover
The cost of staff turnover can be very high, as much as three times their monthly pay.  This would include recruiting cost, training cost, extra time on your part, lost patient and lost new patients. For example, if your senior front desk C.A. leaves and she is paid $2,500 per month, it could take a couple of months before you find another CA that has the qualifications you need, and at least a couple of more months before they are trained.

By the way, this is why it is so important to have your practice systematized with all of your procedures written up for fast training and evaluation. (This is what our PM&A Practice Development Programs help you with!)

Conversely, as mentioned above, you can save money by letting an under performer go.
Staff Motivation
Once you have personnel, you have to keep them motivated. Frankly, this can be a problem for many doctors. There is a basic reason for this which I will explain later on. First, let’s look at some interesting information on employee motivation.

A recent article from the Harvard Business School reports on a study that showed that most employees start out relatively motivated, but things change after about 6 months.

“The great majority of employees are quite enthusiastic when they start a new job. But in about 85 percent of companies, our research finds, employees’ morale sharply declines after their first six months—and continues to deteriorate for years afterward.”

One of the biggest causes for this goes straight to the relationship they have with their managers.

“Many companies treat employees as disposable. At the first sign of business difficulty, employees—who are usually routinely referred to as “our greatest asset”—become expendable.

“Employees generally receive inadequate recognition and reward: About half of the workers in our surveys report receiving little or no credit, and almost two-thirds say management is much more likely to criticize them for poor performance than praise them for good work.

“Management inadvertently makes it difficult for employees to do their jobs. Excessive levels of required approvals, endless paperwork, insufficient training, failure to communicate, infrequent delegation of authority, and a lack of a credible vision contribute to employees’ frustration.” (You can read the entire article here.)

We have seen versions of these problems in every office. Even our own!! It happens. One of the most common habits of doctors that can impede staff performance and motivation is micro managing.  For example, fretting over the office volume, doctors can hover around the front desk causing the staff to be more concerned about the doctor’s constant evaluation than engaging with the patients.

To solve these de-motivation factors,  the authors suggest the following:

1. Instill an inspiring purpose.
2. Provide recognition.
3. Be an expediter for your employees.
4. Coach your employees for improvement.
5. Communicate fully.
6. Face up to poor performance.
7. Promote teamwork.
8. Listen and involve.

We would add two more factors. First:

9. Clear policies and procedures consistently applied. You need to coach your team on the same procedures today that you applied yesterday, and will use tomorrow. These procedures should be written down in some form for easy reference. This gives an objective reference for staff coaching (#4) and regular staff evaluations (#6).

And the most important, and most overlooked in a doctor’ office:

10. Separate your roles of doctor and clinic director so that you can be a part time manager.

The Most Common De-motivator
Most chiropractors are either too busy and/or too focused on doctoring to have much attention left for caring for staff.  After all, the staff is there for the doctor and to help him or her with the patients. The doctor is not there for the staff. And, the staff is paid to do their job.

So, what’s the problem?

The problem is that employees are people and not machines.  And, like all living things, they need a certain amount of nurturing. Growing a business is like growing an orchard. It needs tending. Doctors do not feel they should have to do this, and as doctors, they shouldn’t.

However, as the C.E.O. their business, they have too. Larger offices have office managers or practice administrators that can help do much of the staff management. We usually recommend that the doctor assign a staff member to take the role, if only for a few hours per week, of senior C.A., office coordinator, or office manager.

Most doctors can be managers and coach their staff, but don’t. The reason, and the solution are relatively simple: just separate the roles of doctor and clinic director. As the doctor, everyone works for you and the patient. As clinic director and a part of management, you work for everyone else.

With good business systems in place, a well organized office should require little time of the doctor to be a clinic director.  And in the role of business owner and investor, the doctor should see a very good return on his efforts if his staff is motivated.

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