Are you investing in your team? You might ask, what exactly does investing in my team look like? You may be familiar with financial investments. The goal is to watch it grow. Investing in your team is similar. It allows them to feel empowered, confident, and knowledgeable, and you get to watch them grow professionally. If you invest in your team and they’re happy at work, they’ll be more productive. Studies show that happy employees are more productive. Ultimately, more production from your team equals more money for the business.
How do you invest in your team? There are a few ways to invest in your team and your office. Continuing education as a team is one idea. Not only do you learn something new, you all learn the same message at the same time. Hearing the same message allows for easier implementation and team excitement, and hopefully, you will all hold each other accountable. Also, getting out of the office together allows for fun, bonding, and camaraderie.
There are also many opportunities to send team members to courses to increase their knowledge in their specific roles. There are courses for hygiene, dental assisting, and administration. Plus, business opportunities to improve their skills or hone in on a particular need. When you support and encourage your team to learn and do more, it sends a message. A message of I believe in you, and I want to encourage you to be your best self.
Investing in your team is much more than taking a CE course here and there. I think it goes without saying that you should pay a fair wage, offer what benefits you can, and provide a culture that people want to be a part of. Having a long-term team creates trust with your patients too. It says a lot about a dentist when patients learn that your team has been with you for 10+ years.
If you really want to show gratitude and take the time to get to know your team personally, such as their personal wants and goals, you can go the second mile and send them to a class or symposium regarding their interests. It can be a photography class or a weekend at a summit for their favorite volunteer activity.
Henry Ford said it best, “The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.“
