Every employer knows the value of giving feedback to employees.
After all, isn’t that what annual or semi-annual performance evaluations are for?
But we’re here to tell you that if you as a dental practice manager or owner only provide feedback once or twice a year, you’re missing perhaps the most important factor in growing and managing your practice.
As a matter of fact, we urge you to provide feedback to your team — Every. Single. Day.
Whether it’s positive or constructive, your team needs continuous feedback to shape their behavior and contribute the most they can to your practice’s success.
If, for example, you overhear your treatment coordinator nudging a patient off the fence to go ahead with recommended treatment, thank her immediately (or as soon as possible) for making the effort. Tell her she’s done good work. A well-placed “thank you” is a powerful request for “more of the same, please.”
On the other hand, if you overhear the same treatment coordinator backing off and allowing the patient to decline treatment without trying to educate or inform the patient, talk with her about how she might do a better job of persuasion with the next patient.
Given that example, isn’t it obvious that by the time six months or a year have gone by before giving feedback, it’s too late for the treatment coordinator to change and improve her job performance?
If you aren’t giving as much daily feedback as you might, pay attention to these six powerful benefits of clear, consistent, ongoing daily feedback.
1. Improved personal and practice efficiency.
2. Improved interpersonal communication.
3. Improved patient focus.
4. Decreased interpersonal conflict.
5. Reduced staff turnover.
6. Improved team morale.
Feedback is a powerful tool. Don’t make the mistake of limiting feedback to those once-or-twice-a-year formal performance appraisal meetings that everybody dreads. Learn to provide clear, direct, frequent feedback, and teach your staff how to offer it in return.
It might just be one of the most personally and professionally rewarding skills you and your team will ever learn.
If you know you want to improve your feedback skills and take your practice to the next level, give us a call. We’d love to be of service.
For over 25 years, P & S Coaching has successfully assisted practices just like yours, working with them to achieve — and surpass their goals. Part of our coaching practice is teaching you and your team to create the kinds of feedback loops that will dramatically help your practice grow and thrive.
Schedule a complimentary Discovery Call today.
One idea — one tiny shift in the way you do business — could make your practice more satisfying and profitable. Why not take advantage of this complimentary opportunity?