Most of us spend a ton of time thinking about the patient experience. But we probably do not spend nearly enough time thinking about the experience we are creating for our team.
We want great people who care about the patients, care about the practice, and take ownership. But that kind of engagement does not just happen because someone gets a paycheck. People want to feel like what they do matters, that they are getting better, and that they have some control over how they contribute.
A few things make a big difference:
- Meaning
Remind people why their work matters. We are not just getting through a schedule. We are helping people and doing work that has an impact. - Mastery
Give people something to get better at. Great team members want to grow, improve, and feel like they are becoming better at what they do. - Autonomy
Give good people room to make decisions and take ownership. If everything has to come back through the doctor, you are limiting the team and making the practice more dependent on you.
We put a lot of effort into creating an experience that makes patients want to stay. We should be just as intentional about creating one that makes great team members want to stay too.
If that idea feels familiar in your practice, the conversation below may give you a different way to think about the experience you are creating for the people inside it.
P.S. If you want to step out of the day-to-day and spend focused time working on your leadership, systems, and the kind of practice you want to build, our next DPH retreat is coming up in October. It is a chance to get in the room with other practice owners, work through the bigger issues, and come back with more clarity around what needs to change next. Click HERE for more information.
