What’s The One Thing You Can Focus on to Improve Your Reputation and Your Staff’s Performance?

Recently we discussed the importance of your staff and managing your reputation. Clearly the two are connected so what’s the one thing you can focus on to improve both? The answer is communication. Pro-active communication with your staff and enhanced communications with your patients will positively impact your bottom line and your reputation.

A commitment to staff communication is the single most important action that a leader can take to move their practice forward. Weekly staff meetings and a consistent routine for one-on-one meetings are key to aligning your expectations with staff responsibilities. Meetings are a vehicle to review practice results and collaborate on process changes that will move you closer to your goals. Finding time to communicate with your staff can be challenging but once you get in rhythm you will see the value. I recently had a client take a month off. With this you would’ve thought that his staff would have jumped on the opportunity to skip their weekly meetings. They were given the choice and decided to continue their meetings throughout the month. When asked about this they responded that the meetings keep them on track and ensure that they are up to date on each other’s priorities and appreciate working together. When the physician returned, they kicked off his first month back by not only achieving but exceeding their revenue driving goals.

Your commitment to staff communication also provides your staff with insight, which enhances their ability to communicate with patients. In-person patient communication requires eye contact, welcoming body language and using the patient’s name at the beginning and end of the visit at a minimum. Proper communication also requires that patients are provided the opportunity to ask questions during and at the end of the visit. Enhanced patient communication also requires that the patient’s spouse or significant other are also provided an opportunity to ask questions.

Focusing on communication is an investment of time in your practice and will show a positive return. If you are ready to enhance your practice results, contact me at smays@impactpracticeconsultants.com.