I’m
sure everyone has heard the saying, “Happy wife, happy life.” The same sort of
saying could be applied to your practice. Although it may not have that catchy
rhyme to it, “Happy employees, successful practice,” could be just as important
and true. Without the happiness and contentment of your employees, running and
maintaining a successful practice could be a challenge.
I
worked in a pediatric practice for four years and was involved in almost all
aspects of the office including assisting, scheduling, office work,
sterilization, and billing. Each day was a constant whirlwind of crabby kids,
unexpected treatment, and leaning on each person in the office to pick up extra
duties and tasks. Being involved in an office from the employee side helped bring
this concept to light. If my fellow coworkers and I hadn’t been happy, the
foundation of the office would have crumbled. Through my experience, I have
come up with three very simple steps to help you reach employee happiness.
1: Support and be confident in your employee’s
decisions and performance
There
is a reason we have interviews and trial periods for employees. It’s to make
sure they are competent, hardworking, and worthy of a position in your
practice. Once your employee has proven that they can complete the task at hand
to your expectations, it is best not to constantly look over their shoulder and
second guess them. This, of course, has its limitations and should not be
followed when an employee hasn’t met these criteria. However, the constant
pressure and doubting may make your employees feel inferior and incompetent,
which is not an ingredient for a happy worker. Your employees will feel more
important if they are able to perform their job without constant pressures from
their boss. They will gain self-confidence and worth by knowing that their boss
believes in them and supports the work they produce.
2: Be open to suggestions your employees may have
regarding the office
Although
you may own the office, and all decisions ultimately go through you, it is
still important that your employees feel like they have a voice in the
workplace. Open discussions between employees and owners may help everyone feel
more fulfilled in their workplace. This also may open the door to more
effective communication. Employees want to feel like they can voice concerns to
their boss, and if you are constantly making decisions without any input from
them, they may not feel comfortable communicating with you.
3: Make your employees feel appreciated
Finally,
but most importantly, appreciate your employees and voice this appreciation
whenever you can. We live in a society where people need to feel appreciated,
and this can’t happen if they aren’t told once in awhile. Something as simple
as a “thank you” can make a world of difference in an employee’s eyes, especially
when they have gone above and beyond the call of duty. I think in most cases
you will be amazed at how much harder employees will want to work if they see
that someone has taken notice. Employee appreciation, I believe, is truly the
golden key to success.
You
cannot operate a practice without the hard work and dedication of your
employees. And in order to keep your employees at your office, they must feel
fulfilled and happy. I believe that if you start with these three key points,
you will be well on your way to running a successful and happy workplace for
all.