Changing the way your practice is structured or operates can be a vast undertaking. Use these tips to get started on a path for developing an innovative practice that you lead, not manage.
Leaders innovate
Leaders develop ideas that further practices. Managers use the framework that is already in place. Do not hover over your hygienists or office staff. Let their work speak for itself and step in where necessary. Demonstrate to your team the qualities you want through your own actions.
Do what you do best
The majority of your time should be spent with patients, because that is the best use of your abilities. This means you must delegate tasks to other team members. Leaders delegate. Let your office staff handle the clerical side of the practice, and use a hands-off strategy where appropriate to free your time for patients.
Track team tasks
Rather than micromanaging your team, have them write or email their daily tasks to you. This allows you to track the team’s progress and use of time, and it saves you from constantly asking “what did you do today?”. Hold your team accountable for their tasks, request that they define those tasks in quantitative terms, and spot-check as you feel necessary.
Know when to hire and train
When your practice feels swamped, hire and train. Leaders can recognize when their team is unable to handle the current workload. Pushing your team beyond their limits is not going to produce the results you are striving to achieve. Your team will work best when they have the necessary time and resources to do their tasks.
Leaders do not have the time to micromanage. Leaders know when to back off and let the practice run. That does not mean the whole operation should run on auto-pilot, but focus on letting each team member contribute their abilities in the best capacity. The only way to break through the status quo is to allow new ideas and strategies to take hold, and that cannot happen if you are spending your time hovering over your team. Transform the way you manage your practice and your practice will transform itself.