Employee turnover has been a major problem in almost every industry since the pandemic began. Dentistry has not been immune to this trend. Every time you have a team member leave, you have to expend resources to replace and train them. One of your most valuable resources—your time—is finite. That’s why the dental industry experts at Bryant Consultants composed this list of tips to reduce employee turnover.
5 tips to reduce turnover on your dental team
In 2021, a record number of Americans quit their jobs. There were 4.3 million resignations in the month of December alone, and that was down slightly from the 4.5 million resignations—a record—that occurred in November of last year.
As mentioned, any time you have a team member leave, you have to find and train the replacement. This takes time and exhausts resources.
It’s also why we came up with these five tips to reduce employee turnover:
- Treat employees as an investment, not a line on the balance sheet. Remember that the members of your team are people first. Each of them is unique. Make sure each person on your team knows that they are valued.
- Show trust. Happy, loyal employees trust their employer. Trust is a two-way street, but if you demonstrate that you trust your employee first before expecting them to trust you back, it goes a long way toward building a strong relationship.
- Instill accountability. A thriving dental practice is one that continuously improves. Regular performance reviews—at least once a year—help each team member identify key goals and areas of improvement.
- Make use of technology. Is there a way you can use technology to make the day-to-day workflow more efficient or save time for your employees? Consider making such an investment.
- Build relationships. Often, employees feel more attached to their coworkers than any other aspect of their job. Schedule team-building exercises to foster these relationships.
Other tactics to increase employee retention:
- Appreciation – Above all, your employees want to feel appreciated. Each person feels that appreciation in a different way: from their paycheck, time off for vacation or child care, flexible work schedule, or other incentives such as bonuses.
- Interaction – Remember also that all employees want to be heard. Do your team members feel comfortable voicing questions, concerns, and complaints? Do they have a voice in the way your practice solves problems? If you have some shy team members, one solution could be anonymous online surveys.
- Advancement – Employees like to know they have a chance to move up the ladder. Career development opportunities through training, workshops, and continuing education all go a long way. It also helps your team to know that increased skills might be rewarded through a promotion or pay increase.
Dental team training
A stable team is the bedrock of a successful dental practice. Our expertise can help you understand ways to make a better work environment. Bryant Consultants offers team training, leadership training, and even team retreats. Find out more and schedule your complimentary one-hour consultation by calling (877) 768-4799.
