Richard Branson, multi-billionaire and founder of Virgin, is often quoted as saying, “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients”, and at Dental Depot we couldn’t agree more. When your team of dental staff are happy, the entire practice will run more effectively and your patient experience will most likely always be a positive one. Below are some of the best ways to ensure that your employees are happy:
Acknowledge your Staff
Always make a point of recognising the progress, hard work and effort of your staff. Make verbal observations about the positive aspects of each employee’s work, and your team will feel much more valued. When someone feels that others, particularly their bosses, are paying attention to them and the work they are doing, they are much more likely to take pride in their work and always strive to do their best. This is particularly important in dental practices as there are daily interactions with patients, and having employees with a fantastic attitude towards their job, will significantly reflect on the patient’s opinion and experience.
Encourage a Work-Life Balance
Sometimes it may be tempting to let that particularly hardworking employee stay after hours most nights, but in fact, it will actually lead to less productivity and more unhappiness in the future. Today, with employees having access to work files and emails in their pockets or at the tip of their fingertips, it’s more important than ever to make sure that your staff are achieving a good work-life balance. Studies have shown that this balance will lead to improved attitudes and mental health, an increase in employee retention and a more productive workspace, so it really is a win-win for everyone, including your patients.
Have Ongoing Training
If your dental staff feel that they aren’t learning, they will feel that they are in a stagnant environment and role, which will most likely lead to unhappy work culture. Ongoing training will help to increase levels of job satisfaction and will also help to ensure that your employees are contributing to the growth and success of your practice. Think of your employees as valuable assets which need to be maintained, both for their sake and the sake of your practice.
Effective Onboarding
It’s essential to ensure that each team member you hire for your dental practice goes through a proper onboarding process after being hired. A structured and effective onboarding system can go a long way toward shaping the kind of long term employee someone will be as well as helping to make new staff members feel welcome. Often people will feel overwhelmed by a new job with so many new systems and people to become familiar with. Onboarding can help to alleviate pressure, answer a lot of questions and make your new staff member feel valued. Also, onboarding is an excellent way to communicate right from the very beginning what is expected of your dental employee.
Plan Social Events
Anything from team building activities to a team lunch to a monthly after-work drink will be excellent for team morale. This will help to form bonds and build relationships amongst your staff members which leads to a cohesive and happy team. Research has shown that activities or events planned outside of work lead to higher levels of engagement in the workplace.
At Dental Depot we have a wealth of experience when it comes to working with different dental teams and clinics, so we’ve become experts in understanding what will work and what won’t work for your practice. If you require new dental equipment or if your equipment needs to be serviced, get in touch with us today!
