Leverage Your Strengths with Clients

It’s a constant dilemma, trying to understand what your patients need, the service your clients demand and meeting the commitments of running a practice. There are those magic moments when everything flows and it is an effortless current of understanding between you and your client. Unfortunately, these moments can be too few and not too often...

Having a problem acquiring new “10” employees for your practice? Why not clone your employees? No, you can’t do it genetically (at least not yet) but you can get your current “10” employees to help you find new ones. Why not offer your employees a “finder’s fee”? If one of your current employees helps you to find a new employee for a position you have available in your practice, why not give them a $500.00 finders fee after the new employee successfully completes their three month introductory period. You might even give the same employee another bonus after the new employee completes their first year of employment in your practice. Who knows better what type of employee will fit into your practice than your current team members? You might find that this is the best money you could ever spend. Remember— every time you lose an employee and have to hire a new one, you are probably spending half of their salary in recruiting and training costs. Spending $500.00 or $1,000.00 may save you a lot of money.

In February’s newsletter we created a definition for leadership. Let’s look at how leadership, not management, will guide your hospital into a prosperous future. What does “leading for the future” require? According to research conducted by Kouzes and Ponser, "People are willing to follow leaders who are honest, forward-looking, inspiring, and competent."

Let’s look at that first term: What does it mean to be honest? Being consistent between word and deed is what we do if we’re honest. That is how people judge us. Honesty is also related to values and ethics. We appreciate people who take a stand on their principles; we resolutely refuse to follow those who lack confidence in their own beliefs.

Does your healthcare team know what your business stands for? If you asked them to name the three core values for your business, would their answer be the same as yours? How can your team be honest in their dealings with clients if they don’t know what your hospital stands for?

Next month, we’ll talk about being "forward-thinking".

The financial tip is on hiatus this month due to the heavy tax season.