You’ve probably heard the ever-popular management quote by now, “Employees don’t quit their job, they quit their managers”.
In a perfect world, we would all manage our chiropractic practices with ease and would be a constant source of support. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to always say the right thing, especially when you are juggling so many different tasks in your practice.
As you manage your practice, part of your responsibility is ensuring the growth and development of your team. One of the most powerful tools to make sure this happens is through your feedback. Your team relies on your words and guidance to help them improve, strengthen their skills, and to understand where they add value.
Because your words are so powerful, it’s important to understand what phrases you can work on avoiding and what to say instead.
Don’t Say This: “Why do I pay you if I have to do the job myself anyway?!”
Do Say This: “What would be your plan of action in this situation?”
Harsh statements and threats will not inspire loyalty or quality work from your team. Turn these difficult situations into teaching moments.
Don’t Say This: “Nice job today”
Do Say This: “How was [current task] today?”
Generic statements don’t hold weight and aren’t as genuine as specific questions. When you acknowledge a specific task, you show that you are really paying attention.
Don’t Say This: “That patient drives me crazy!”
Do Say This: “What do you think causes this patient to be a challenge for us?
Show your team that providing excellent care for your patients is your top priority and that you take customer service seriously.
Don’t Say This: “We’ve already tried that before. Don’t waste my time!”
Do Say This: “What other options do you see?”
Shutting down ideas is no way to encourage and cultivate fresh new ideas in the practice.
Don’t Say This: “Keep doing what you’re doing”.
Do Say This: “You are doing so well with [bringing in new patients/solving insurance issues/etc.]. Are there any other areas you wish to develop?”
Sometimes team members need specific feedback to help them develop and grow. Providing constructive feedback can help them get there.
Don’t Say This: “I don’t have time to talk right now.” …and then slam the door.
Do Say This: “I want to discuss this with you, but am unable to right now. Let’s schedule a meeting at [specific time].”
You want your team to feel valued and encouraged. Shutting them out and not giving them the time they need won’t allow for growth.
Don’t Say This: “Why couldn’t you do this the right way?!”
Do Say This: “How can we improve next time? What can we do to better our processes?”
Sometimes people make mistakes — it just happens. Accusatory language won’t do anything in terms of motivating your team and may cause them to resent you. Giving constructive feedback isn’t always easy, but it is the best course of action to take for the overall success of the team and the practice.
The goal here is to understand the importance of effective communication with your team. The small change of asking questions instead of giving orders can result in a huge positive impact. To learn more about how to effectively communicate with your team, contact us for a free coaching call!