Is Accountability a Four-Letter Word in Your Practice?

Recently we’ve focused on the connection between practice growth and staff growth. This week we’ll look a centerpiece of driving practice growth and that’s accountability.

Accountability is defined as “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.” It doesn’t matter if you are a practice owner, or part-time employee. You accepted your role in the practice, and you are accountable for the responsibilities of that role. Practice leaders are charged with the responsibility of providing platforms for a practice staff to grow so the first step in building a practice of accountability requires a look in mirror.

To drive practice accountability, leadership must be committed to a consistent focus on responsibilities and goals. This focus ensures that accountability is organic and accountability conversations are developmental, and not confrontational. Regular communication around practice successes and opportunities drives full staff accountability. From celebrating an improvement in the booking window, to new patient growth, a staff becomes a team when accountability to results is clear and consistent.

For many people, accountability has a negative connotation. That’s problematic for personal development and practice growth. The impact of accountability should be thought of like the ripples you see in the water after a stone drops through the surface. The ripples extend far beyond where the stone was dropped, and the impact occurs all the way to the bottom line.

If you'd like to drive accountability and practice growth, please contact me smays@impactpracticeconsultants.com.