How to Motivate Your Dental Practice Staff

The old adage “money doesn’t buy happiness” mostly holds true when talking about employees at your dental practice. Sure, there’s something to be said for paying your staff a decent wage that stands up to your competition, but a fair salary isn’t the only factor to motivate your team. Here are our best tips for adding to your employees’ job satisfaction. 

Focus on performance

Being happy at work doesn’t necessarily equate to high performance. A high salary may ensure loyalty, but if you aren’t getting a return on your investment, then it won’t pay off in the long run for you and your staff. Giving specific feedback about a recent treatment — sharing an example of when their ability to explain a particular procedure lead to an overdue appointment rather than just simply saying “good job” — will help connect their efforts with results.

Create a culture

Set a tone for the culture of your dental practice by becoming clear about what you want your dental practice to look like and how you want it to operate. Each member of your dental practice staff should love what they do, take ownership of their roles and reinforce the values of your dental practice. An environment of learning, growing and fulfillment is just as critical to your own development on your quest toward dental practice success.

Make it a group effort

The unwritten rules of your dental practice shouldn’t necessarily come from the top down. Goals and expectations should come directly from those who put them into practice every day. Schedule regular check-ins with your employees on a one-on-one basis to match their desires for growth to the practice’s needs. This gives staff members the opportunity to reflect on their job priorities, contributions and goals.

Lead by example

Yes, a sufficient salary will make your employees feel rewarded for their contributions, but they must also feel good about where they work, feel acknowledged for their work and feel loyalty to you as their leader. The more personal anecdotes and personal success stories you share with your team, the more connected to your practice they will become. If your staff knows the meaning behind your mission, they are more likely to stand behind it.

What’s next?

Contact the experts at Professional Transition Strategies for more advice on how to shape the dental practice of your dreams.