At Bryant Consultants, we understand the value of a positive company culture and the role it plays in attracting and retaining top talent. That’s why we believe that dental assistant appreciation should be an essential part of any dental practice’s culture.
Here are some budget-friendly and post-COVID ideas for showing your appreciation for dental assistants, along with some tips on how to implement them:
-
Homemade Ideas:
Consider having special cookies, cupcakes, or candies made for dental assistant appreciation week. Find a special day out of this week to celebrate and have lunch together! These treats can be customized to your dental assistant’s preferences. Ask a local business, a patient’s business, or someone in your community who makes homemade treats to support the local economy.
To implement this idea, you can assign someone in your team to be in charge of coordinating the treats or create a sign-up sheet for team members to bring their homemade goodies.
-
Handmade:
Handmade posters colored by the kids of your team members, the team, or the owner’s family can make special moments for anyone in the dental office. If that’s too cheesy for you, then move into handmade jewelry, shirts, or bags. Many ladies in your dental practice love crafting.
To implement this idea, you can encourage team members to create handmade gifts for dental assistants or designate a specific day for a crafting session.
-
New Swag:
Every team member that loves the company they work for loves to share it! Share your company brand with your team and let them represent you! Assistants adore company swag, so let’s not reinvest in your business by marketing your business while honoring your dental assistants during this appreciation week!
To implement this idea, you can order custom swag with your company logo and distribute it to your team members, including dental assistants.
-
Food:
Everyone loves to eat! Paid lunch and a potluck is a fun and easy way to appreciate your assistants, feed your entire team, laugh a lot, and have some fun! It’s called culture building, and it’s important to build a positive culture in your dental practice! Be super thoughtful and cook your dental assistants’ favorite foods! Do what they like… now that’s appreciation! If the budget is tight, a potluck at the office or some famous cooking from the dental practice owner is always welcomed!
To implement this idea, you can organize a potluck or pay for a catered lunch. You can also ask dental assistants about their favorite foods and plan a menu around their preferences.
-
Social Media:
Have all the fun you can all week long and spotlight your assistants! Do a nice spotlight on each one of them throughout the week. Have your team write down some great things about each assistant and hold them up and snap some team pictures!
To implement this idea, you can assign someone to create social media posts highlighting dental assistants or encourage team members to share posts on their own social media accounts.
-
Custom Drink Ware with a lid & Straw (for cleanliness in our dental field):
Everyone likes a new mug, but go all the way and bling it up custom to your assistant’s taste! This shows that you listen to your team and know them!
To implement this idea, you can order custom drinkware with dental assistants’ names or initials and distribute them as gifts.
-
Acts of Service:
Clean all their rooms at the end of the day and do all their chores, and get them out at 5:00 all week long. Put hygiene in charge of that all week long, and then they will see what they are doing to assistants when they leave them with everything!
To implement this idea, you can assign specific team members to clean up dental assistants’ rooms or help them with their daily tasks for a week.
-
Coffee:
Gather their orders and bring them some of their favorite drinks that are customized to them! What do they like as individuals! Go that extra mile! Have your team write messages with their coffee!
To implement this idea, you can ask dental assistants about their favorite coffee drinks and organize a coffee run for the team. You can also encourage team members to write personal notes or messages of appreciation on the coffee cups.
-
Fun Lunch:
Pre-pay lunch out and get them out on time for a fun lunch next door and have some cards sitting at their table! Come on dentists, it’s time to share a meal with your dental assistants and appreciate them! You must tell them that they are important, and your actions must back up the words!!
To implement this idea, you can organize a paid lunch out at a nearby restaurant and have special cards or notes waiting for dental assistants at their table.
-
Flowers, cards, and candies:
These are always great for your dental assistants, but so are charcuterie boards, fruit trays, vegetables, and outdoor plants! Gift cards and monetary gifts are also loved by your beloved assistants. However, it’s important to attach a heartfelt note of gratitude for all that they bring to your company!
To implement this idea, you can order flowers or plants, create custom cards, or put together charcuterie or fruit trays as gifts for dental assistants. You can also attach a heartfelt note expressing your appreciation.
At Bryant Consultants, we believe that showing appreciation for dental assistants is essential for creating a positive company culture and attracting and retaining top talent. If you’re looking to create a thriving dental practice with a supportive and positive workplace culture, contact us today to learn more about our services.
