“A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.” ― Greg Reid
The dentist cannot do it alone. You must assemble a winning team. Everyone loves to succeed! Motivate your team with goals and rewards.
Establish your goals
At your annual kickoff meeting or end-of-year clarity retreat, work with your team to decide where you need improvement in the coming year and set realistic goals with everyone from hygienists to front desk staff.
Create an action plan
If you do not clearly outline how you will succeed, your team becomes a ship without a sail. Develop small steps that move the needle and assign tasks to individuals. Don’t forget to record who is responsible for what and circle back at the agreed upon time!
Decide on a reward
Whether large or small, give your team something to anticipate! It doesn’t always have to be a grand prize. Rewards can be as small as a pizza lunch for the team or a Starbucks gift card for an individual!
Keep the goal top of mind
The old adage out of sight (or hearing), out of mind. At your morning huddle, discuss your goals and how you will achieve them that day! During the day, have a designated “cheerleader” that will remind the team of the goal and give a progress update several times. At the end of day meeting, report the strides that have been made or decide what needs improvement.
Keep the rewards in sight as well. Are you planning a nice dinner on the town if the team hits a certain goal? Pin up a copy of their menu in the break room to get everyone excited! Another idea is to talk about what you might eat or how you might dress that night!
Celebrate everything
Large or small, be certain to point out the wins as the leader of the team. And enjoy your reward!
Dr. Bobbi Stanley has practiced dentistry for over 25 years. She has established best practices for setting daily, monthly and annual goals and the team incentives to encourage her staff to meet them. In her Dental Entrepreneur Summit, she details the methods she has used to build one of the oldest and largest comprehensive dental practices in the Southeast.
In 2020, the course will be offered in-person and virtually for dentists that are serious about making 2021 their best year yet!
