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\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n I was once hired by a dental clinic years ago.<\/strong> Numbers had been headed the wrong way (down). Visiting the office, I discovered that no one talked to one another. This was the doctor\u2019s policy. The staff didn\u2019t talk to each other, or to the doctor, and the doctors only talked with the patients. Patient communication was limited, short, and almost brusk.<\/p>\n For about 3 months<\/strong>, I worked with the staff and two doctors to get them together and communicate. No marketing, no policies, no strategies\u2026 just gabbing. They got to know each other better. They also discussed issues in the office and started having ideas for improving things.<\/p>\n Also\u2026stats went up! <\/strong><\/p>\n The doctor was not happy and accused me<\/em> of not working<\/strong>, just talking! Despite my urging, he didn\u2019t manage by the numbers, just by some old-school idea of working on an assembly line where no one was allowed to talk.<\/p>\n The work ethic of the Industrial Age<\/strong> was that you \u201cclock in,\u201d leave your life behind you, work like a machine for 8 hours, and then \u201cclock out.\u201d You worked at a machine as a machine.<\/p>\n But people aren\u2019t machines. <\/strong><\/p>\n Minor confusions and then disagreements<\/strong> can accumulate in any relationship. Imagined or real offenses occur. It does in any family, for example. Relationships stiffen when this happens, like a hose in winter with summer\u2019s water frozen.<\/p>\n Relations can be warm and friendly<\/strong> or deteriorate to a cool fa\u00e7ade. The internal relationship within the office team ultimately affects both the quality and quantity of the clinic\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n Relationships can be difficult, no doubt<\/strong>. People are complicated, and life is constantly throwing each one of us different curve balls. This is why relationships need regular maintenance. Your family relationships, for example, require time for communication and working things out when there are differences. Planning vacations, reviewing budgets, children\u2019s school and sports activities, and much more takes work.<\/p>\n The same goes with your office family. <\/strong><\/p>\n A practice is a network of relationships that is <\/strong>created and sustained through communication and service.<\/strong><\/p>\n I have used this definition for years. I am sure there are other definitions, but this has worked.<\/p>\n This definition applies to your patients<\/em><\/strong>. Give them great service, engage in meaningful and empathic communication. They will get better, and they will stay with you longer.<\/p>\n This definition also applies to generating new patients:<\/em><\/strong> Expand your network. Get people to know you and how your services can help them.<\/p>\n But this definition also applies to your staff<\/em>: <\/strong>create and maintain a great relationship with your teammates \u2013 and support them.<\/strong><\/p>\n You must<\/em> schedule time each week for each other.<\/strong> Staff meetings, training sessions, marketing meetings, lunches, one on one meetings, square dancing (good exercise!) \u2013 whatever the venue, make the time to communicate and support each other. This simple act with your staff will help you provide the best service and outcomes to your patients. And help you reach and stay at full capacity.<\/p>\n Keep dancing and \u2026Seize your Future,<\/em><\/p>\n Ed<\/p>\n If your practice building efforts aren\u2019t taking you to your goals<\/strong>, <\/span>there are reasons — many of which are hidden from you.<\/span><\/p>\n Find out what they are and how to sail to your next level by getting and implementing my new book, The Goal Driven Business<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 I was once hired by a dental clinic years ago. Numbers had been headed the wrong way (down). Visiting the office, I discovered that no one talked to one another. This was the doctor\u2019s policy. The staff didn\u2019t talk … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pmaworks.com\/observations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Picture2.png\")
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